The American Mold Builders Association,
the only industry trade association dedicated exclusively to
U.S. mold manufacturers and their suppliers, awarded Mold Builder of
the Year honors to Andrew Baker, project manager for Byrne Tool &
Die in Rockford, Michigan. Andy received the award at the AMBA
Annual Convention, March 24, in Orlando, Florida.
Andy and Byrne Tool has been a member of the AMBA since 2003. He
serves on the West Michigan Chapter board and on the scholarship
committee since 2004, and works actively to support the Chapter in a
variety of ways, including organizing the first-ever Chapter golf
outing which was very successful in raising money for the Chapter’s
Scholarship Fund.
He promotes mold making as a career at the local high school’s
“Career Day” and is currently doing some beta testing for a new
training company specializing in tool and die training. Andy
actively lobbies to promote industry awareness through efforts such
as going to Washington, DC and meeting regularly with local
representative to share his view points.
Andy also actively promotes employee involvement and social
awareness by taking the entire company to help with Habitat for
Humanity projects.
Andy’s contributions to Byrne Tool & Die’s success include helping
the company increase its sales every year since 2003, and the
company expected a 10% gain in 2009. In 2008, Andy was instrumental
in creating a strategic sales plan to enhance sales and help the
company move into new markets, while targeting new customers. Byrne
Tool embraces “Lean” principles and coined it “Common Sense
Manufacturing” or CSM, creating many metrics that monitor the
company’s effectiveness throughout the entire system.
Byrne Tool continues to invest in new equipment, technology and
employees, and works with machine tool vendors to provide the best
in new tool technology. The company works with other area mold
companies to learn best practices so that every shop can grow
through sharing.
“Receiving this award was a real surprise,” Andy comments. “The AMBA
has some great moldmakers and to receive this award was so amazing
to me. Even though the award says Andrew Baker on it, it’s really a
reflection of all the people here at Byrne Tool and the great work
that we do here. It showcases the whole shop.”
Baker was presented with a check for $5,000 from Progressive
Components to be used for an industry-related education program of
his choice. He will work with the chapter to decide how the money
will be used.
Byrne Tool also developed its web site (www.byrne-tool.com)
to provide value-added services such as an online job-tracking
system that allows customers to log in and check the progress of
their new tooling, download progress reports, and more. Andy’s
contribution to the company in all of these areas has helped the
company achieve sustainable growth and increased profits, while
reducing lead time by 30% and provide customers with a quality mold
at a competitive price. Byrne Tool received the Manufacturer of the
Year Award from the Rockford Chamber of Commerce, and the small shop
Lead Time Leader Award from Mold Making Technology Magazine.