Improvement Activities

Founded in 1974 as a privately held company in Kent, Ohio. Kent Adhesive Products Company (KAPCO) is an adhesive coater and converter of flexible materials for a multitude of markets ranging from digital and graphics media, library products, packaging, appliance, automotive, medical and electronics, plus the list of industries continues to grow.

With assistance from MAGNET, part of the Ohio MEP and the MEP National Network™, KAPCO has implemented lean continuous improvement initiatives aimed at enhancing throughput and minimizing downtime. The project focused on several key areas, including changeover reduction events on critical machines, waste elimination studies on essential processes, 5S training and coaching, and the adoption of visual management systems. These efforts reflect KAPCO’s commitment to operational efficiency and ongoing process optimization.

MAGNET facilitated a series of improvement events designed to enhance efficiency and optimize processes. One such initiative was a setup reduction (SMED) kaizen event, which included SMED training, a time study of the current state, data analysis, brainstorming for future state improvements, and the development of an implementation plan. Additionally, waste reduction events were conducted, focusing on time studies of key processes, data analysis, and the creation of a future state implementation plan. MAGNET also led 5S initiatives by providing training, coaching, and improvement recommendations. Furthermore, visual management systems were introduced through training and coaching, along with the design of visual boards to enhance operational transparency and control.