Manufacturers Overlook Profit Potential of Service and Parts, According to Advanced Technology Services

Optimizing older manufacturing assets can reduce errors responsible for almost
50% of unnecessary rework, resulting in more profitability overall
PEORIA, Ill.--(Business Wire)--
Often viewed as the cost of doing business, maintenance of equipment, including
rebuilding and remanufacturing, are in fact an overlooked source of profits for
many manufacturers.

To help ease the burdens being felt by many financially strapped manufacturers
across the country, Advanced Technology Services (ATS) has identified a source
of lost profits that can be easily turned around. Optimizing older manufacturing
assets allows manufacturers to significantly defer costs while keeping those
assets running longer.

"Many older assets produce scrap because of alignment problems," said Mike
Fitzgerald, director of lean practices at ATS. "Being able to identify these
issues and correct geometric problems within the machines can add years of
useful function to most manufacturing assets."

ATS is addressing these issues with a new program to help manufacturers keep
assets running longer. The innovative product offering includes 5 specific
services. By troubleshooting, aligning or remanufacturing mechanical components
that are not repaired by in-house maintenance groups, companies stand to save
significant money. ATS`s Specialized Reliability Solutions Group is dedicated to
repairing most components associated with machine tools on-site or at ATS
facilities.

Fitzgerald said that precision measurements and adjustment of machine errors can
correct problems that account for as much as 50 percent of scrap or rework.
Instead of spending time and money shipping components back to the original
manufacturer or a third-party service provider to be rebuilt or replaced, ATS`s
system allows many repairs to be made on-site, resulting in significant cost
savings, he added.

According to Fitzgerald, serviceable components include:

* Rotary Tables
* Turrets
* Ways
* Slides
* Indexers
* Turcite, replacement/scraping
* Gearboxes
* Robot PMs

In a down economy, manufacturers should be looking for ways to squeeze more
productivity out of older assets. ATS also recommends that manufacturers look
more broadly at services that provide a cost-effective alternative to
replacement.

"Faced with a highly competitive marketplace, manufacturers cannot afford
extended downtime on critical machines or relying on machines that may not meet
performance standards," Fitzgerald said. "Our clients are tapping into our five
new service offerings as a way to cut costs and see immediate results."

About ATS:

ATS makes factories run better. Advanced Technology Services (ATS) improves the
productivity and profitability for many of the world's most respected
manufacturers through the managed services of production equipment maintenance,
information technology and spare parts repair. Bornout of the need for American
manufacturers to remain competitive in a fast changing global economy, ATS is
the recognized leader in outsourced production equipment maintenance. For more
information, visit ATS` website at www.advancedtech.com.

Media Contact:
Liz Torrez
312-255-3036
liz.torrez@hillandknowlton.com

Copyright Business Wire 2009