Issue link: http://www.insightdigital.biz/i/51202
FACE TIME We are trying to brand this entire region as the North Coast, with the intent to bring more business into this region. manufacturing and 5-S principles. This helps us eliminate waste, improves our material cost, helps our overall organization and improves our performance. We've done it all without sacrificing safety. We are on track to close out 2011 with 642 days and ¼ million man hours since our last lost-time accident. I was involved with Kvichak Marine Industries in Seattle (which is partnering with Marinette Marine to build RBMs for the Coast Guard), so I understood the product we needed to build. At Kvichak, we developed a detailed design working closely with the Coast Guard. I traveled between Seattle and Green Bay until we got to full production. When we went into production here in Green Bay, we had the design refined. We were able to attract a very skilled workforce. As we were starting up this facility, the yachting industry was tanking and there were workers available with aluminum boat construction experience. We are part of the North Coast Marine Manufacturing Alliance. We are trying to brand this entire region as the North Coast, with the intent to bring more business to this region. We're working with NWTC and the UW-Marinette campus to provide the skilled resources we need as this industry grows so we have people in the pipeline. We won't know if the Coast Guard will exercise their option to add 70 extra RBMs here, for a total of 250 boats. Because of what we've accomplished here, Fincantieri Italy is very interested in marketing Convenient. Local. Community. • Conveniently located in your backyard • Preferred SBA Lender • Award-Winning customer service • Local decision making From business to personal accounts, we have the solution for all of your financial needs. Visit or call us today to learn more. 920-731-4440 - 333 S. Nicolet Rd., Appleton communitybankandtrust.com 18 | INSIGHT • Januar y 2012 Member FDIC www. insightonbusiness .com Bob Merriam Office President Justin Levanetz Investment Executive aluminum boats out of this facility throughout the world. Fincantieri U.S., through Marinette Marine, is bidding on the Navy's 72-craſt Ship-to-Shore Connector program; it's a replacement for the Navy's Landing Craſt Air Cushion (LCAC) hovercraſt. We are anticipating that the Navy will award this contract in 2012 – it's an over $4 billion contract. The plan would be to build those here in Green Bay at ACE. We have the right facility, the right processes and the right culture. We credit our success to our skilled, dedicated workforce – one whose imagination, commitment and focus is coupled with what I refer to as the great Northeast Wisconsin work ethic. I believe we have a very bright future.