Client Feedback
If you would like to speak to any of our past or current clients about our work please contact us.
Greg Knox
Dayton Region Manufacturing Association Chairman 2013
Excerpt from April 2013 Newsletter
....We took a class a few years ago which exposed us to the possibilities of the white boarding process – it was put on by Michael Kalter and in the class DRMA member Swihart Industries showed how they had used the whiteboard process to increase communication and efficiencies, while decreasing ineffective meetings and mistakes brought about from the three forms of communicative waste -(POORcommunication, MIS-communication and NO-communication). After this class we sat in on another “live” session graciously hosted by Ray Clark and his DRMA member company Auto Valve and we were sold. We then engaged Michael Kalter to come in and work with us personally to make the process our own – which he did not only with great insightfulness and intuition – but also with great alacrity – which I really appreciated as the guy who signs checks at Knox Machinery!
We have used this process to eliminate three different meetings we used to hold, saving us hours of time, and netting us exponentially better communication. We continue to modify our whiteboards – sure, we track all of our critical goals, objectives, tasks and deadlines – but we have also added such things as prayer invocation (yes – I checked – it is still legal!) “G.I.O.Y.C.”(“get it off your chest”) continuous improvement library, etc.
A brief article like this one cannot do justice to the process; but if you are interested in learning more, please feel free to shoot me an email. We would be happy to host you as we have several of our DRMA member companies. You can also contact Michael Kalter who I am sure would be happy to arrange “field trips” to other companies using the process.
So, are we “in tune”? Let’s put it this way: the whiteboarding process worked so well at my company that we converted a section of our basement over a year ago and the Knox FAMILY whiteboards every Sunday after Mass . . . ask my wife, Margie, how much whiteboarding has helped her as the “conductor” of our eight-piece symphony! Beautiful music…
Regards,
Greg Knox
Dayton Region Manufacturing Association Chairman 2013
Dayton Region Manufacturing Association Chairman 2013
Excerpt from April 2013 Newsletter
....We took a class a few years ago which exposed us to the possibilities of the white boarding process – it was put on by Michael Kalter and in the class DRMA member Swihart Industries showed how they had used the whiteboard process to increase communication and efficiencies, while decreasing ineffective meetings and mistakes brought about from the three forms of communicative waste -(POORcommunication, MIS-communication and NO-communication). After this class we sat in on another “live” session graciously hosted by Ray Clark and his DRMA member company Auto Valve and we were sold. We then engaged Michael Kalter to come in and work with us personally to make the process our own – which he did not only with great insightfulness and intuition – but also with great alacrity – which I really appreciated as the guy who signs checks at Knox Machinery!
We have used this process to eliminate three different meetings we used to hold, saving us hours of time, and netting us exponentially better communication. We continue to modify our whiteboards – sure, we track all of our critical goals, objectives, tasks and deadlines – but we have also added such things as prayer invocation (yes – I checked – it is still legal!) “G.I.O.Y.C.”(“get it off your chest”) continuous improvement library, etc.
A brief article like this one cannot do justice to the process; but if you are interested in learning more, please feel free to shoot me an email. We would be happy to host you as we have several of our DRMA member companies. You can also contact Michael Kalter who I am sure would be happy to arrange “field trips” to other companies using the process.
So, are we “in tune”? Let’s put it this way: the whiteboarding process worked so well at my company that we converted a section of our basement over a year ago and the Knox FAMILY whiteboards every Sunday after Mass . . . ask my wife, Margie, how much whiteboarding has helped her as the “conductor” of our eight-piece symphony! Beautiful music…
Regards,
Greg Knox
Dayton Region Manufacturing Association Chairman 2013
Charles E. Dinkler II
President/Owner
Dinkler Surgical Devices Inc.
Dear Mr. Kalter:
As owner and president of Dinkler Surgical Devices, Inc., I write to sincerely thank you for the crucial guidance you philanthropically offered to me and my company when we needed it most. As a niche company in the business of designing and manufacturing medical products for the neurosurgical market, I needed guidance on how to take my inventions into the marketplace. Find big money to market and sell or stay lean and attract a distribution arm. Your unparalleled experience in manufacturing, and economics prowess, helped us navigate our pathway into the marketplace with a world-wide distributor and still maintain ownership of our company.
Simply, we were blessed to receive the first rate C-level leadership and coaching you brought to the table. As a result of it, in 2012 we began receiving orders for Dinkler Surgical Headrest Systems. We also received a special honor in the fall of 2012 at the Congress of Neurological Surgeons (CNS) annual meeting. Our headrest, The Mizuho Freedom Clamp, was selected to appear in the CNS “New Product Launch” promotion. Every attendee received the following write-up which directed extra traffic to our exhibitor booth:
Mizuho Freedom Clamp
"Mizuho America – Booth #1103
Now it is possible to attain superior, safe skull fixation by providing much lower pin forces and not sacrifice pin positioning. The Mizuho Freedom Clamp provides a superior approach to skull fixation by employing a geometric skull pin placement requiring much lower pin force application to secure the skull and safely support it. In addition, each of the three skull pins can be placed independent of the other skull pins, providing the freedom necessary to pin the patient where the surgeon prefers and greater exposure to the operative side."
We are also most grateful for the Miami Valley business connections you bestowed upon us, Michael. Your business network in manufacturing is beyond impressive. The doors your name opened for us, and the relationships created thereafter, have been fundamental in the creation of the forward momentum we are now experiencing. You helped us to accomplish our goal of keeping our manufacturing in the Miami Valley, allowing us to do our part in strengthening our local community.
Above all, Michael, you are a sincere, trustworthy, and down to earth man; a man of principal; a man of the highest values. Your business lean philosophies, an offshoot of your Peace Corps days no doubt, were a welcomed breath of fresh air for us and speak volumes about who you are as a C-level executive. We could not have enjoyed our time working with you more. We consider you a friend.
It goes without saying, but I will nevertheless put it here: If you are a business owner, and need guidance or direction, whether fresh on the scene or needing to breathe new life into a longstanding company, you can trust that Michael Kalter will identify your company’s challenges and bring real solutions to the table in order for you to affect the change you need to not only be successful, but to thrive.
Thank you, again, Michael, for all the time and talent you shared with Lynnette and me. We are and will remain greatly indebted to you for the leadership and coaching you shared with us.
Respectfully Yours,
Charles E. Dinkler II
President/Owner
Dinkler Surgical Devices Inc.
President/Owner
Dinkler Surgical Devices Inc.
Dear Mr. Kalter:
As owner and president of Dinkler Surgical Devices, Inc., I write to sincerely thank you for the crucial guidance you philanthropically offered to me and my company when we needed it most. As a niche company in the business of designing and manufacturing medical products for the neurosurgical market, I needed guidance on how to take my inventions into the marketplace. Find big money to market and sell or stay lean and attract a distribution arm. Your unparalleled experience in manufacturing, and economics prowess, helped us navigate our pathway into the marketplace with a world-wide distributor and still maintain ownership of our company.
Simply, we were blessed to receive the first rate C-level leadership and coaching you brought to the table. As a result of it, in 2012 we began receiving orders for Dinkler Surgical Headrest Systems. We also received a special honor in the fall of 2012 at the Congress of Neurological Surgeons (CNS) annual meeting. Our headrest, The Mizuho Freedom Clamp, was selected to appear in the CNS “New Product Launch” promotion. Every attendee received the following write-up which directed extra traffic to our exhibitor booth:
Mizuho Freedom Clamp
"Mizuho America – Booth #1103
Now it is possible to attain superior, safe skull fixation by providing much lower pin forces and not sacrifice pin positioning. The Mizuho Freedom Clamp provides a superior approach to skull fixation by employing a geometric skull pin placement requiring much lower pin force application to secure the skull and safely support it. In addition, each of the three skull pins can be placed independent of the other skull pins, providing the freedom necessary to pin the patient where the surgeon prefers and greater exposure to the operative side."
We are also most grateful for the Miami Valley business connections you bestowed upon us, Michael. Your business network in manufacturing is beyond impressive. The doors your name opened for us, and the relationships created thereafter, have been fundamental in the creation of the forward momentum we are now experiencing. You helped us to accomplish our goal of keeping our manufacturing in the Miami Valley, allowing us to do our part in strengthening our local community.
Above all, Michael, you are a sincere, trustworthy, and down to earth man; a man of principal; a man of the highest values. Your business lean philosophies, an offshoot of your Peace Corps days no doubt, were a welcomed breath of fresh air for us and speak volumes about who you are as a C-level executive. We could not have enjoyed our time working with you more. We consider you a friend.
It goes without saying, but I will nevertheless put it here: If you are a business owner, and need guidance or direction, whether fresh on the scene or needing to breathe new life into a longstanding company, you can trust that Michael Kalter will identify your company’s challenges and bring real solutions to the table in order for you to affect the change you need to not only be successful, but to thrive.
Thank you, again, Michael, for all the time and talent you shared with Lynnette and me. We are and will remain greatly indebted to you for the leadership and coaching you shared with us.
Respectfully Yours,
Charles E. Dinkler II
President/Owner
Dinkler Surgical Devices Inc.
Raymond Clark
President/CEO
Auto-Valve Inc. Engineered Aerospace Components
"... Michael has been my personal fitness coach along in the subsequent transformation of my business. I could write a short story on every one the items below as each one has its’ own interesting tale of courage, personal growth,conflict, and achievement. Suffice it to say, that since Michael began working with me, we have been able to achieve some amazing things, the highlights of which are:
President/CEO
Auto-Valve Inc. Engineered Aerospace Components
"... Michael has been my personal fitness coach along in the subsequent transformation of my business. I could write a short story on every one the items below as each one has its’ own interesting tale of courage, personal growth,conflict, and achievement. Suffice it to say, that since Michael began working with me, we have been able to achieve some amazing things, the highlights of which are:
- Implemented a professional management system that maintains executive staff level accountability utilizing a white board process.
- Capitalized our business needs
- Paid down our line of credit (89% improvement)
- Reduced our Inventory (13% improvement)
- Re-staffed several Key Positions in the Company
- Improved manufacturing accountability, productivity, and efficiency throughout the plant
- Implemented detail tracking of all direct and indirect labor hours
- Embarked on improving CNC machine Setup Times
- Currently re-visiting all job standards for objectivity and fairness
- Currently implementing Experts Driven Setups
- We have thoroughly overhauled and achieved a major breakthrough in our Quality Assurance Department
- Implemented 90 day cash flow forecasts/projections
- Implemented 5S (Work Place Organization) company wide
- Cleaned up all outstanding customer repairs and all needed follow up
- Improved regular weekly reporting to CEO by staff (Hi/Low reports)
- Each manager is engaged in a “Rolling-Top-Five” list of improvement projects for their respective areas
- Our new Director of Sales has revamped many processes and procedures, turned around declining customer relationships, improved our project management, and initiated new relationships with two major customers
- We have improved employee communication and training through implementing regularly scheduled monthly company meetings.
- Through August we have realized a 7.14% Increase in Gross Margins
- An 8.6% Increase in Sales
- And EBIT improved more than 8.6% of sales compared to last year.
Darren L Witter, P.E., LEED AP
Vice President of Operations
Melink Corporation
"Michael worked with me as a consultant while I was Director of Manufacturing at Melink Corporation. Within just a few months, Michael helped us to improve our overall manufacturing operation, including organization, cleanliness, team communication, and inventory management. While working with him, our inventory shrink was cut to a third of its baseline, reducing from 3.4% to less than 1%, and inventory turns doubled, increasing from 4 to 8 times per year. Michael assisted us not through prescribed textbook philosophies, but by first getting to know who we are and identifying specifically what we needed most, while always preserving our corporate and team culture. His approach was to make small but sustained changes over time, rather than implementing a massive rebuilding effort, which was much more manageable and effective.
Michael genuinely cares about the people that he works with and is passionate about helping them succeed. He has both the knowledge and first-hand experience in lean manufacturing, quality, leadership, and business in general that could benefit any organization."
Vice President of Operations
Melink Corporation
"Michael worked with me as a consultant while I was Director of Manufacturing at Melink Corporation. Within just a few months, Michael helped us to improve our overall manufacturing operation, including organization, cleanliness, team communication, and inventory management. While working with him, our inventory shrink was cut to a third of its baseline, reducing from 3.4% to less than 1%, and inventory turns doubled, increasing from 4 to 8 times per year. Michael assisted us not through prescribed textbook philosophies, but by first getting to know who we are and identifying specifically what we needed most, while always preserving our corporate and team culture. His approach was to make small but sustained changes over time, rather than implementing a massive rebuilding effort, which was much more manageable and effective.
Michael genuinely cares about the people that he works with and is passionate about helping them succeed. He has both the knowledge and first-hand experience in lean manufacturing, quality, leadership, and business in general that could benefit any organization."
Rob Moyer
President/Owner
Rexarc International
"Nice quote in the 2/22 [2013] DBJ, page 14-15! Sure am glad I got to work with you before you hit the big time. Great to see your public exposure increasing. You’ve always been around behind the scenes and I’m proud to see your expertise being highlighted more publicly. You deserve it."
President/Owner
Rexarc International
"Nice quote in the 2/22 [2013] DBJ, page 14-15! Sure am glad I got to work with you before you hit the big time. Great to see your public exposure increasing. You’ve always been around behind the scenes and I’m proud to see your expertise being highlighted more publicly. You deserve it."
Greg Knox
President/Owner
Knox Machinery
"I have had the pleasure of calling on Michael as a prospective customer, working with him on boards and commitees and hiring him to help me to run my operation more efficiently. Michael has light years of experience and mixes business pragmatism with Peace Corps optimism ...kinda "Peter Drucker meets Jerry Garcia"... Michael is excellent at what he does, and if you are wondering "what he does" it would be a much shorter list to name what he cannot do... Michael is a pleasure to have for a friend, mentor and business associate."
President/Owner
Knox Machinery
"I have had the pleasure of calling on Michael as a prospective customer, working with him on boards and commitees and hiring him to help me to run my operation more efficiently. Michael has light years of experience and mixes business pragmatism with Peace Corps optimism ...kinda "Peter Drucker meets Jerry Garcia"... Michael is excellent at what he does, and if you are wondering "what he does" it would be a much shorter list to name what he cannot do... Michael is a pleasure to have for a friend, mentor and business associate."