Saturday, August 1, 2009

Jasper Engine Transmission Plant Tour


I spent the better part of the day at the http://www.jasperengine.com/ plant and was greeted by office support and customer service Gayle. She is knowledgeable, polite, and educated professional.

The remanufacturing plants are amazing. The sheer number of engines being dismantled, cleaned, and checked are truly amazing. I have been involved building and buying engines and parts for close to 30 years. I found my recent trip to the plant located in Southern Indiana truly an efficient factory of workers and process putting together "a better than new domestic and foreign origin engines and transmissions and axle assemblies, lower drive units Mercury and Volvo." Diesel engines from makers Cummins, Cat, Detroit, while a new 6.4 liter Ford Super Duty E40D transmission combinations are staples.

The plant is really a clean facility and very well organized through a POD system utilizing KANBAN and Kaizan mentality developed and patterned by and bench marked by Toyota Manufacturing processes.

Custom Engine Builds and standard replacement are the priorities. All products are checked for defects and corrected. Parts are separated sorted and are routed to proper POD areas for line boring deck, height and cylinder marching. New components are installed and checked for tolerance. The gaskets, bolts and soft plugs are all replaced and lubrication for assembly. Fluid filled and Dyno testing. All components are checks for leaks while being tested for HP and Torque, Fluid pressure.The remanufactured engines are hot tested until oil is 140*f and spark fired for full oil pressure. Installation kits and radiators are sold and quoted through dealer networks. The installations kits could be an area where our company could bring a value proposition to the the already successful engine company

The also support race preparation for NASCAR and other drag race teams. Many innovated transmission and third member components are part of R&D at the facility.They own and operate plants located in Indiana, North Carolina, Missouri, Pennsylvania, and Washington. The were customers there at there facility so the main sourcing and sales people were business selling and not buying. They let me know they would talked to me Monday to discuss any opportunities. We have filled out and their vendor request form and they have a general view of our company's capabilities.

They support local charities and maintain a dealer network of professional who have a massive support network and Sale Representatives in area close bye for support. The town of Jasper Indiana hosts a yearly Strassenfest. The German linage and flare of German history has inspired the whole town and the bratwurst and sauerkraut, with beer is food to enjoy while bands play in the open air street fair.

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