Riordan Manufacturing – Pontiac, Michigan
Process Overview
The Pontiac plant handles the production of custom plastic pieces. The plant is also responsible for the production of all medical products produced by the company.
Receiving Department
The receiving department accepts the delivery of raw materials shipped to the company by truck.
The raw materials, or inputs, are:
1.
High-density polyethylene (HDPE) plastic pellets
2.
Colorizing dyes
3.
Paper
4.
Cardboard
5.
Plastic film
6.
Styrofoam packaging peanuts
7.
Adhesives
8.
Ink
9.
Steel stock
10.
Aluminum stock
11.
Abrasive grinding and cutting wheels and bits
12.
Solvent cleaners
13.
Lubricating oils
14.
Mold release agents
15.
Electricity
16.
Natural gas
17.
Light bulbs
The desired product is comprised of inputs sent to the mixing or mold fabrication departments.
The possible byproducts, wastes, or outputs, from this department are:
1.
Particulates from the handling of damaged bags of dyes that may cause air pollution
2.
Off-spec raw materials managed as a waste
3.
Spilled materials that may cause land and water pollution
4.
Wasted energy from lighting, heating, and processing equipment
If possible, off-spec raw materials are returned to the vendor for credit. Otherwise, the material is treated as waste and sent to a landfill.
Mold Fabrication Department
The custom plastic pieces produced by the plant are usually specialized, unique, or limited-run items. The molds used in the production of these custom pieces are fabricated in-house. The department also fabricates the molds for new designs, as ordered by the Research and Development department in San Jose, CA. If a new design is put into production at the Georgia or China plants, the molds used for the production machines would be purchased from a third-party mold maker.
The inputs are:
1.
Steel stock
2.
Aluminum stock
3.
Abrasive grinding and cutting wheels and bits
4.
Water
5.
Solvent cleaners...