June 23, 2006

YOU WANT TO DRAMATICALLY INCREASE ORGANIZATIONAL PRODUCTIVITY? USE MORE VELCRO!


A study by FASTENation.com finds that Velcro products, especially Velcro straps increase productivity, competitiveness and ROI for a number of companies.

An internal research study conducted by FASTENation.com confirmed that hook & loop and other fastening products available at www.fastenation.com can save organizations time and costs while increasing productivity, competitiveness and ROI.

"Because they are safe, easy to use and maintenance free, VELCRO® BRAND Fasteners maybe used in just about every organization for just about any conceivable fastening application," said David Petak, CEO of FASTENation.com. "VELCRO® and VELCRO® straps are reusable, reliable, durable, adjustable and overall simple to use."

Organizations can increase efficiency further by utilizing FASTENation, Inc.'s consulting services, which are offered at no charge to customers. As the world leader and expert in VELCRO® BRAND Fasteners, VELCRO® straps and 3M Fastening Systems, FASTENationTM makes recommendations about specific products to inquiring companies, which will meet the client's needs. With a variety of VELCRO® BRAND products and other fastening items, the company assists organizations in determining the correct solution available for the task at hand.

Here are the specific areas where Velcro products have been found to contribute to the company's ROI:
  • Color-coding computer cables cut down on IT staff's down time.
  • Office organization, reduction in breakage of critical systems (communication/information) and quick assembly increased productivity and reduces down time.
  • VELCRO® BRAND Fasteners saved companies money by limiting IT System breakage (Desktops and Servers) during earthquakes. It also saved in loss of productivity when computer hard drives stayed intact thus saving hundreds of skilled work hour labor.
  • Use of VELCRO® BRAND fasteners saved in project overruns do to both the wide breadth of products available and product versatility at critical points within product development process.
  • Choosing the correct closure for a product can increase the probability a product will be a success and accepted by offering customers since they see value within.
  • Product selection available within FASTENationTM product offering allows for customization of fastener performance (peel, shear and cycle-life) with end product cost targets.
The use of Velcro has attracted the attention of several fortune 100 CEO's Petak says, Because it fits perfectly with the Japanese philosophy of Kaizen.

Kaizen, Japanese for "change for the better" or "improvement") is an approach to productivity improvement originating in applications of the work of American experts such as Frederick Winslow Taylor, Frank Bunker Gilbreth, Walter Shewhart, and of the War Department's Training Within Industry program by Japanese manufacturers after World War II. The development of Kaizen went hand-in-hand with that of quality control circles, but it was not limited to quality assurance.

The goals of kaizen include the elimination of waste (defined as "activities that add cost but do not add value"). Kaizen is a daily activity whose purpose goes beyond improvement. It is also a process that when done correctly humanizes the workplace, eliminates hard work (both mental and physical), teaches people how to do rapid experiments using the scientific method, and how to learn to see and eliminate waste in business processes.

Kaizen often takes place one small step at a time, hence the English translation: "continuous improvement," or "continual improvement." Yet radical changes for the sake of goals, such as reducing down time and frustration in the work place also gain the full support of upper level management. Goals for kaizen workshops are intentionally set very high because there are countless examples of drastic reductions in waste to serve as proof of their practicality. Petak's Velcro study showed such reduction in waste.

The "zen" in Kaizen emphasizes the learn-by-doing aspect of improving production. This philosophy is focused in a different direction from the "command-and-control" improvement programs of the mid-20th century. Kaizen methodology includes making changes and looking at the results, then adjusting. Large-scale preplanning and extensive project scheduling are replaced by smaller experiments in improvement, which can be rapidly adapted as new improvements are suggested.

Masaaki Imai made the term famous in his book, Kaizen: The Key to Japan's Competitive Success. An appendix to that book includes a reference to the 5S strategy of disciplined cleanup

FASTENationTM has the capabilities to custom fabricate or assemble any product to a customer's exact specifications. The company's capabilities include:
  • Straight cut and mated VELCRO® BRAND Fasteners
  • Custom VELCRO® Straps
  • Custom die cut pieces for any application
  • Custom printing
  • Poly bag packaging and labeling for any products offered
"We offer custom fabrications to help organizations cut down on assembly time and increase productivity," Petak said. "Companies can utilize our fasteners for a number of different uses. If you can imagine a use for VELCRO® we can help Fasten Your World TogetherTM."

About FASTENation, Inc.

FASTENAtionTM, is a leading global manufacturer, converter and distributor of fasteners from Velcro USA Inc., 3MTM and Glue Dots International. For nearly a decade they have serviced many industry segments by offering innovative ways to fasten products together. They have the largest nationwide available inventory of Hook and Loop Fasteners and industry leading converting capabilities. FASTENationTM, is also the leading manufacturer of innovative fastening/clip systems for attaching items to table faces or display products.

Contact:
David Petak
FASTENation, Inc.
EMAIL: dpetak@fastenation.com
PHONE: 973-591-1277
www.fastenation.com


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