Mike Dorcey

A contract manufacturer of railroad and telecommunication signal house enclosures had long relied on job shops to supply the sheet metal parts, which it then assembled. But the president, Patti jon Christensen, wanted to bring all the manufacturing under her own roof so she could build the company's future on parts that met her company's quality standards and timely deliveries. The company installed a flexible manufacturing system (FMS) from Finn-Power in March 2000 and has achieved its goals, to the point that it plans to add a second FMS.

Rick Walsh isn't your typical artisan, nor are his works typical welding pieces. But his personal evolution as both an artist and a welder illustrate the innovation and persistence of any successful welding operation.