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Manufacturing Innovation Blog
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Galaxy Precision, Inc. is a family-owned precision machine shop with capabilities in CNC milling, CNC turning, and Swiss machining located in Albany, Minnesota. Founded in 1990 by Ralph Finken, the company has grown from a one-man machining company operating out of a small cement building to a 26,500-square-foot, 35-employee operation with 30 CNC machines. The company is capable of complete part manufacturing, including cutting, plating, heat treating, and grinding, in addition to milling and machining.
Galaxy Precision has built a strong reputation with its customers and maintains a history of quality products and attention to detail. Business was going well, and it was growing, but the leadership team found that being ISO 9001:2015 certified would make Galaxy Precision even more attractive to new customers. To grow the business and be competitive, the company needed to become ISO certified.
The MEP National Network Aides in Certification Process
As the team sought the best path for gaining the valuable certification, it became clear that doing it alone would be too big of a task. The company’s leaders were busy and needed outside support to help them document every procedure, refine their processes, and navigate the ISO certification process.
“Since certification, we’ve been experiencing higher demand and have been able to take on new customers that we couldn’t get before. [Our consultant] was good to deal with and very patient through the process because we not only had to run the business, but also get certified at the same time.”
— Sharon Finken, Co-Owner & CFO, Galaxy Precision, Inc.
Enterprise Minnesota consultants, part of the MEP National Network™, met with the Galaxy Precision leadership team to discuss what an ISO 9001:2015 certification process entails and to learn more about the company. They started the work with a quality management system (QMS) assessment to gain a more complete understanding of the company’s current state and identify any gaps in its procedures. Using the assessment as a launching point, Galaxy Precision began the formal process of becoming ISO certified with the support of Enterprise Minnesota ISO experts.
Galaxy Precision stayed operational and managed to keep all its production lines up and running while completing the documentation and other requirements of the standard. After the Enterprise Minnesota project wrapped up, the company was successful in passing its ISO 9001:2015 certification audit. By achieving this international standard, the company demonstrates excellent process efficiency and continuous improvement along with the ability to consistently meet customer requirements.
Results
• $500,000 in increased or retained sales
• 6 created or retained jobs
• $300,000 in new investment
• $40,000 in new products
• $40,000 in training
Could your company benefit from assistance with ISO certification? Connect with your local MEP Center for more information.
Enterprise Minnesota is the official representative of the MEP National Network in Minnesota. The MEP National Network is a unique public-private partnership that helps small and medium-sized manufacturers generate business results and thrive in today’s technology-driven economy. The MEP National Network comprises the National Institute of Standards and Technology’s Manufacturing Extension Partnership (NIST MEP), the 51 MEP Centers located in all 50 states and Puerto Rico.
