Center Name: Nevada Management Assistance Partnership Story Title: Armand Manufacturing, Inc. Beats the Odds with Lean Client Profile: Armand Manufacturing Inc., established in 1948, produces vinyl and polyethylene packaging, static control and specialty products that are custom designed. The company employs 42 people at its facility in Henderson, Nevada.  Situation: Since most of the products made at Armand Manufacturing are custom designed, it was thought too difficult to use Lean principles in addressing process improvements. However, Armand’s owners, Rich and Lori de Heras, engaged the Nevada Management Assistance Partnership (MAP), a NIST MEP network affiliate, for help with a Lean manufacturing project and found that the “Lean” philosophy proved extremely successful for their company.  Solution: Armand’s cushion bags were a perfect target for a Lean manufacturing prototype project because of the intensive labor requirements. MAP conducted a Value Stream Map analysis which resulted in the implementation of a work cell and point of use storage. As a result of MAP’s assistance, the company increased throughput and reduced costs without reducing quality. Armand Manufacturing applied for and received a grant from DETR (Nevada Department of Employment, Training and Rehabilitation) for training their entire staff, transforming the company into a “Lean” Enterprise.  Results: * Realized over $80,000 in cost savings. * Increased throughput by 33 percent.  Testimonial: “MAP provided the training and expertise needed for production floor improvement. Then their experienced personnel helped our employees actually operationalize the new techniques that ultimately increased our capacity and profitability.”  - Rich de Heras, Owner Activity Period: 2008-2