Edition 9 - January 2010

 

 
























 

 

030-0875 Flush Mount Paddle Handle

This flush mounted paddle handle is a redesign or our popular 030-0850 Flush Mounted Paddle Handle. Featuring a disengaged paddle in the locked position, this robust product allows for power locking and is compliant to FMVSS 206. Other product details include:

  • Inside lock provides override if paddle should be locked
  • The KeyOne Plus locking system allows the operation of multiple onboard locking hardware with a single key
  • Available in a variety of finishes including black powder coated, high quality buffed chrome, or a combination of black/chrome finish

System kits are available and include handles, latches, and accessories to provide a comprehensive access solution.


 

 

TriMark Recognized as an Energy Champion


TriMark recently received notification from the U.S. Department of Energy's (DOE) Industrial Technology Program (ITP) that we've been recognized as an "Energy Champion" by posting impressive energy savings with the Save Energy Now initiative. This was a direct result of TriMark implementing recommendations from the Department of Energy energy assessment.

The notification letter goes on to state:

"The Energy Champion award is presented only to those plants that have implemented recommendations to save a total of at least 250,000 million Btu OR at least 15 percent of total energy consumption. In 2009, 140 plants have earned special recognition out of more than 700 plants across the nation that received DOE energy assessments in 2008. This year (2009), ITP is recognizing 47 plants as Energy Champions."

TriMark is very proud of this accomplishment and we will continue to look for ways to reduce our energy consumption and use energy more efficiently.


 

 

 

 


UMA Motor Coach Expo
February 23-27, 2010
Las Vegas, NV





2010 AUSA/ILW Winter Symposium & Exposition (AV)

February 24-26, 2010
Fort Lauderdale, Florida






NTEA - The Work Truck Show 2010
(Specialty Vehicle)
March 9-12, 2010
St Louis, Mo.






3rd Annual Tactical Vehicles Summit
April 19-21, 2010
Tysons Corner, VA


 


Bauma 2010 (Construction)
April 19-25, 2010
Munich, Germany






Military Vehicle Expo
August 11-12, 2010
Detroit, MI






Modern Day Marine
September 28-30, 2010
MCB, Quantico, VA






Bauma China 2010
November 23-26, 2010
Shanghai, China






National RV Trade Show (RVIA)
November 30-December 3, 2010
Louisville, KY



 

 

EDITOR'S NOTE: If you would like to send a copy of this e-newsletter to a friend, colleague or associate, the Send to a Friend link at the bottom of this newsletter is a convenient method for providing them with their own personal copy.


 

 

TriMark Seeing Bright Spots for 2010

 

Happy New Year!

While this Happy New Year wish is a bit belated, I think we are all very glad that 2009 is behind us, and we can look forward to a more positive (and happy) business environment in 2010. 2009 was a very difficult year, and I think our business, as well as many of our customer's businesses, have been challenged and changed by the experience. But now it is time to look forward with renewed commitment to our company and our customers.

In preparation for 2010, we recently conducted a Customer Survey (see article below), and we will be using the feedback from that survey to help guide some of the improvements we will be making in the coming months. For example, we continue to experience material shortages based on our attempt to keep inventory low due to reduced orders. Currently, we have a 6 to 8 week turnaround for materials on "surprise" orders and we know this timeframe is not acceptable to most of our customers. As the level of business activity improves, we should be able to reduce this time to a more acceptable level. Again, as previously communicated, any advanced forecast information that you can provide will assist and minimize future product shortages and delays.

We continue to see bright spots – and some continuing not-so-bright spots – in the markets we serve. We were very pleased in the level of activity at the recent RVIA Show (see RVIA Recap article), which has also been reflected in an uptick in our RV business. We are seeing some positive signs in the construction area, which has been really energizing for us as this market was one of the first to suffer from the economic downturn. We also see positive activity with our expanding business in the armored vehicle, specialty truck and bus/mass transit markets. Unfortunately, the heavy truck market, based on published reports and our own numbers, does not look to be poised for any substantial rebound until late 2010 or early 2011.

Please take a look at the TriMark tradeshow list published in this issue. If you plan to attend any of these tradeshows, please stop at the TriMark display so we can thank you in person for your continued business and support. If you cannot make one of the shows, then please accept the equally sincere thanks expressed in this newsletter.
Patti Knowlton
General Manager



 

TriMark's Customer Survey Findings

 

As part of our continuous improvement program, TriMark values and is committed to understanding and meeting customer needs. We recently conducted a Customer Survey to find out about your satisfaction with TriMark's products, customer support, ordering and delivery process and engineering capabilities.

If you were one of the people who responded to the invitation to take part, we'd like to thank you for your time and inputs. We'll be using the findings to improve our marketing, customer service, and product delivery moving into the next decade. If you have any additional feedback on how we are doing, we encourage you to contact us through this newsletter or tell your customer service representative, account manager, or field service representative. Don't hold back - your inputs are important to us.

Key findings:

  • Customers value TriMark's product quality as well as our durability and reliability
  • The products that we manufacture are appropriate for the markets that we serve
  • Customers value our Customer Service as well as the communications related to product orders and delivery
  • Sales support including product knowledge and the ability to provide effective product suggestions/recommendations received high marks
  • Our technical capabilities, ability to meet project schedules, and ability to solve problems, all continue to differentiate TriMark
  • Our response to emergency situations, ability to adapt to change orders (date/quantity), and our product lead-times have slipped due to the current business climate and inventory reduction
  • Some customers feel that our new product development, application engineering and cost reduction programs have also slipped within the past 12-18 months
  • Lastly, our website falls short of customer expectations

We also had a large percentage of respondents offer to participate in follow-up surveys regarding product performance, new products, and services, and we'll certainly be taking people up on these kind offers of support. In addition, we would like to put out a request for case studies and testimonials regarding TriMark products and services.

In closing, this is just the beginning of programs for customer insights, so if you have not had the chance to participate, there may be several more opportunities in 2010. Thanks again to all of you that participated.



 

Report on Recent RVIA and TriMark Engineer Featured in RV PRO Magazine Article

 

TriMark Corporation, the leading provider of innovative access solutions to the RV market, recently participated in the 2009 National RV Trade Show at the Kentucky Expo Center in Louisville. The overall theme of the 2009 National RV Trade Show was "Let the Sun Shine" which communicated a strong message of optimism as the industry moves towards a recovery in the coming year.

Attendance at the RV Trade Show was down 1.2 percent from 2008, according to RV Industry Association final registration data, but despite that, attendees described the mood as "upbeat."

Because of TriMark's position as a leader in this market, we have continued to focus development and engineering resources on providing innovative solutions which are available to the RV industry, rain or shine. "Quite candidly, our customers in this industry really depend on us being there, and we've demonstrated through this recent downturn that we are truly committed to this market," states Bruce Boerschel, TriMark Account Manger for the RV market. "One look at the new and updated products we featured at RVIA should send a strong message that we are moving forward in supporting our customers."

In the weeks following the show, the national business media has started to report on the positive movement of the industry. Since late December, four major news outlets published stories using RVIA information demonstrating that the RV industry is an economic barometer.

On December 21, the Chicago Tribune reported that economists view RVs as an early indicator of where the economy is going, and that RV sales have started picking up.

The Wall Street Journal followed on December 23 with a report that unemployment in Elkhart County had fallen by 4.4% largely because of "the rebound in the recreational vehicle industry, which is responsible for about a quarter of the county's annual economy."

Fox Business Network featured interviews on December 29 with KOA CEO Jim Rogers and Airstream CEO Bob Wheeler. Rogers and Wheeler told FOX that camping was becoming increasingly popular and that RV shipments are rising.

On January 2, an Associated Press story cited the industry's growth in shipments and the rise in RV industry hiring as good signs for the national economy.

The business media is also responding to RVIA shipment data showing steady growth in shipments the past few months. For example, November shipments were more than double the total from the same month in 2008.

Reichling Featured in RV PRO Magazine

TriMark's own Anita Reichling, Advanced New Products Electrical Engineer, was featured in the December issue of RV Pro Magazine in an article titled, "Where is RV-C Today?" The article appeared in support of the third annual "Network Fest," an educational display demonstrating the features and benefits of "RV-C," held at the RV Trade Show.

By connecting key electrical devices, RV-C enables RV components to share information and coordinate their operation, either directly or remotely. In addition, RV-C minimizes wiring and troublesome connections while at the same time providing diagnostic information to the customer or service technician. By replacing many individual signal wires with a twisted pair data cable, RV-C helps make RV electrical systems more reliable and saves money and time during installation.

The event featured RV-C compliant components that are networked together so that attendees could experience them communicating with each other in real time. TriMark was one of nine companies participating in the demonstration and seminar. RV-C brings the RV industry into a new era of technological progress and will impact how RVs are designed, manufactured, serviced, and enjoyed.

One of TriMark's key products in this area is the 500-1000e-ASK system. This simple and integrated remote transmitter keyless-entry system offers increased security, convenience and functionality while reducing system costs. Designed for demanding users of heavy trucks, emergency vehicles, RV's, agricultural, and construction equipment, it provides reliable remote access control of electronic latches and handles



 

TriMark to Participate in AUSA and UMA Shows

 

TriMark will be attending and displaying at two upcoming shows, which will offer the opportunity to show and demonstrate new and updated products to each of these key markets.

UMA Motorcoach Expo

The first show will be the UMA Motorcoach Expo, February 23 – 27, 2010 in Las Vegas. The UMA Motorcoach Expo is being billed as THE most important event that those who are involved in the motorcoach industry will attend in 2010. The EXPO is a one-stop-shop for motorcoach manufacturers and operators where they can obtain everything they need in regards to helping their respective businesses.

TriMark continues to experience a real interest in the application of current and custom products for this market. Much of the expertise from the involvement in the RV market translates well to the problem-solving solutions OEM's in this market are seeking.

TriMark will be introducing a variety of products at this show and will be located at Booth 326. If you are planning to attend please make a point to stop and see us.

2010 AUSA/ILW (ASSOCIATION OF THE UNITED STATES ARMY'S
INSTITUTE OF LAND WARFARE) Winter Symposium & Expo


TriMark will again be participating in this event. The event is being held February 24 – 26, 2010 in Orlando The key objective of AUSA's ILW Winter Symposium will be to provide an open forum for attendees to interact and participate in discussions about the Army's modernization efforts and immediate needs of soldiers who find themselves in harm's way.

The central focus of the symposium is the Army's progression towards transforming while conducting combat operations. Special emphasis will be devoted to the indispensable role that industry partners (TriMark) provide to the United States Army. Guest presentations and panel discussions will provide a myriad of information as it relates to the direction and progress of balancing resources, equipment, personnel, doctrine and training to provide the essential protective umbrella for our nation.

Last year TriMark was a first time exhibitor, and the overwhelming enthusiasm for the Armored Vehicle products we introduced convinced us that our products were right on target. Last year we introduced our COMMANDoor powered door solution, and we will be back this year with an updated version. We will also be displaying the full line of TriGuard products as well as several complete door solutions. TriMark will be in Booth 1213, so if you are planning to attend, please accept this invitation to stop and see us.



 

The Visual Workplace – A key Component of 5S - Continued

 

Manufacturing Insights, a leading industry analyst firm, recently concluded that there is currently $900 billion of waste in global manufacturing supply chains. There are many reasons for this staggering level of inefficiency, starting with the simple fact that running a supply chain with numerous moving parts, material, equipment, people, etc.scattered about the globe is a complex undertaking.

Think about that number - $900 billion – for just a minute. Then think about what would happen if we could save just a fraction of that waste and apply it to the bottom line of our respective companies. Putting this kind of number in perspective is sometimes difficult, but at TriMark, we believe it starts with our great employees who are dedicated to providing the best and highest value products to our customers.

In the last issue of this newsletter, we introduced you to the Visual Workplace at TriMark. At TriMark, one of the basic building blocks to creating a Lean organization is to establish a fully functional Visual Workplace. A visual workplace exists when effective and standardized visual communication is used. It is a simple and effective solution to increasing and refining communication to employees through visual aids and controls.

As a part of our Lean program, TriMark established an internal committee focused on the Visual Workplace initiative. This committee established the following as a goal:

To create a complete visual workplace where all performance information is communicated and visitors can easily understand the performance information without any explanations. Action plans for continuous improvement have been developed and implemented improvements are displayed along with results.

One excellent example of the Visual Workplace initiative in action is the Corporate Performance Scorecard which shows key performance metrics for the organization. The scorecard is updated each month and posted on all the bulletin boards in TriMark facilities. TriMark management reviews this scorecard each month and determines areas for improvement.

Another application of visual control is a Process Analysis Board (PAB). The PAB is a whiteboard used to record timely process related information. Relevant information, such as production related issues, need to be successfully communicated at many levels and at various times such as between shifts, as a link from production to product management, operators and supervisors/lead people and others.

The implementation of this "process" is to make this important information VISIBLE. There are two key benefits of Process Analysis Boards:

1.     Increased and enhanced communication

2.     Improved quality

At TriMark we are working hard to eliminate as much waste as possible and, while we will not be able to eliminate $900 billion in waste, we will be able to create a work environment that focuses on providing high-value products to our customers.



 

 

This e-newsletter is a service of TriMark Corp. and is produced by The Bearings Group



 

 

 

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