Continuous Improvements Drive Elite Metal Finishing

Employees at Elite Metal Finishing in Oceanside, California, know that when they walk in the door each day, the same motto will be repeated to them.

“Our motto ‘Quality Never Compromised’ is instilled in every team member,” says Dan Rose, company president. “Quality and on-time delivery are at the forefront. It’s who we are. Our team members know that ultimately, our customers are the ones signing their paychecks.”

Elite Metal Finishing was singled out for Best Practices in the Products Finishing Top Shops Benchmarking Survey because of their extremely strong attention to detail in both quality and customer communication.

“Our customers are our business partners,” says Rose, whose shop had a very low order lead time of 2-5 days, and an on-time delivery rate of 99 percent.

“Two of our core values are continuous improvement and workmanship,” he says. “These business practices keep us focused on maintaining outstanding turn time, quality and customer retention. Great turn time without quality is nonproductive.”

Elite Metal Finishing also had an extremely high first-pass quality yield of 99 percent, which Rose says is a culmination of extensive contract review, strict tank maintenance, inspection throughout the job and operator training.

In addition, the shop has instilled several improvement methods to ensure high quality workmanship, including preventive maintenance programs to alleviate downtime; committing to cross-training to ensure staff gaps can be filled; and dedicated team members who are willing to work extra hours, split shifts and weekends to ensure they meet delivery requirements.

“Companywide continuous improvement is a frame of mind for us,” Rose says.

Being selected to the Products Finishing Top Shops list is proof that the management and staff methods are working and that, in essence, quality is not being compromised.

“It’s great to get an honor from a respected publication, and it makes for great advertising,” Rose says. “But, more importantly, it’s confirmation to our team members that, collectively, they are being rewarded for the pride they have in their work and a job well done.”