Somic America Inc.

We had the opportunity to sponsor the Cole Land Transportation Museum Heroes & Heritage weekend to celebrate their 50th anniversary! The Cole Land Transportation Museum held a series of three events all in one weekend including "Night at the Museum", "Cheers & Gears", and "Touch-a-Truck", which allows families to experience the museum and help support the Foundation's Veteran Programs, like Maine Veterans Project. The purpose of the Cole Land Transportation Museum is to collect, preserve, and display a cross section of Maine’s land transportation equipment from which this and future generations will gain knowledge of the past. Additionally they aim to honor our veterans by remembering, recording and displaying U.S. military memorabilia to forever remind this and future generations of the high price our comrades have paid to protect our freedom. In doing so, they hope to inspire and challenge the young people of today to continue on in the footsteps of pioneers who have built our state and country.

We're excited to be able to share some "teaser" still photos from our upcoming videography project. The finished products will be two short, promotional videos for talent retention and attraction showcasing manufacturing and engineering jobs in our region. The big reveal is just a few weeks away, but in the meantime, enjoy these shots from videographer Forged Film Company! A special thank you to the participating businesses who took time out of their busy production schedules and graciously made time and space for this project: REAL PERFORMANCE MACHINERY, LLC, Somic America Inc., Hitachi Energy Bland, Speyside Bourbon Cooperage, Inc., AMR PEMCO, Inc., and SIG (formerly Scholle - upcoming). We look forward to sharing the finished product with everyone!

Our team in Virginia had the opportunity to participate in the Kirk Nairn Memorial Scholarship Golf Tournament, which aims to raise funds for scholarships benefiting graduates of Abingdon High School! Kirk Nairn, remembered for his spirituality, compassion for those with special needs, and outstanding academic and athletic achievements, tragically passed away in a traffic accident just before his high school graduation in 2019. The endowed Kirk Nairn Memorial Scholarship has since awarded $250,000 in scholarships to Abingdon High School graduates over five years. Contributions to the golf tournament will support continuing education opportunities for deserving students in Kirk's honor.

Our team in Maine had the opportunity to be the major sponsor of the Bangor Region Chamber of Commerce charity golf tournament at Bangor Municipal Golf Course!

Somic America proudly introduces its second Okuma America Corporation Lathe 2SP-2500h lathe, replacing the 2SP-25 used for over 20 years! The new lathe is designed for automation, typically featuring a gantry and dual carousels for automatic part loading, but it’s configured for manual operation to replace outdated equipment. It includes advancements such as a direct-drive spindle, Windows-based controls, and Okuma-built hardware, allowing more advanced operations than previous Fanuc systems. The 2SP-2500h offers improved tool-path coordination, with both the chuck and turret moving. Unlike the 2SP-25, which had a stationary chuck and turret movement in the X and Z directions, the 2SP-2500h’s turret moves in the Z direction, and the chuck is mounted on a carriage for X-direction movement. This enhances coordination, tool path creation, and machining precision. A key upgrade is the Windows-based system, providing an advanced platform compared to older standalone controllers and servos. It features integrated systems for maintenance monitoring, file management, and a technical reference library. The 2SP-2500h also uses the TMAC (Tool Monitoring Adaptive Control) system from Caron Engineering to monitor spindle motor power in real-time, preventing tool failure by analyzing horsepower usage and detecting anomalies. Configured as a groove lathe, it machines three sizes of SBJ parts without through-spindle coolant. Programming was done in-house, optimized from legacy toolpaths and modeled in Solidworks before conversion to Okuma format. Unlike most new machines, this lathe was manually programmed for specific Somic production needs. The Okuma 2SP-2500h handles large production volumes, with a cycle time of about 20 seconds for two pieces (approximately 10 seconds per part), meeting Somic’s high-volume requirements. It can machine parts for various product lines, including the 150B Corolla, 320B, 550B, and Venza service parts. The lathe features a Hainbuch mandrel assembly for quick changeovers and an external high-pressure coolant system generating up to 1000 psi, improving chip control. The machine’s operation involves a pusher locating the part, clamping it, boring, and cutting the groove profile with a two-piece groove tool, allowing cost-effective replacement of tool components. Next steps include connecting power, setup by Robert E. Morris Co., final acceptance testing, a capability study, and a high-volume production test (HVPT). Once completed, the lathe will be moved to its production line. The older lathe, machine 342, will be relocated, and machine 354 retired. This investment underscores Somic America’s commitment to cutting-edge manufacturing, enhancing efficiency and reliability in high-volume production for the automotive industry!

Our team had the opportunity to celebrate achievements for their contributions to Six Sigma Yellow Belt and Green Belt Projects at West Wind Winery in Max Meadows, Virginia! The projects focused on two rounds of training and various activities, highlighting both the advantages and challenges of continuous improvement. Here are some of the highlights of their projects: First Round: Workforge classes followed by project with existing Green Belt. * Pros: Effective mentorship from experienced Green Belts, helping them stay engaged. * Cons: Mentors may become unavailable, and some projects face delays. Second Round: Workforge classes followed by in classroom labs and hands on Kaizen Blitz * Pros: Immediate application of learned tools, with visible results. * Cons: Time-intensive, and some projects can't be completed quickly. Projects and Kaizen Ideas: -Jessica Cole, Kayla Crouse: Developed radio control procedures, still implementing them. -Jay Crigger, Phillip Pack: Worked on operator retention strategies; ongoing implementation of ideas like surveys. -Tommy Viars, Derek Lundy, Richard Richardson, Cathy Sparks, Tony Seagle: Kaizen Blitz focused on improving REA flow and waste reduction, integrated into the APQP Project. -Weld Scrap Reduction (Brittany Cole, Heath Whittier, Aaron Miliam, Tracy Pattison, Brittany Richards): Improved weld quality by changing voltage and adjusting parameters, reducing scrap and saving $34,399.80 per year. -SBS Efficiency Improvement (Jonah Miller, Drew Wells Sandvik): Increased efficiency from 61% to 87%, saving $224,517.69 annually. -REA Downtime Reduction (David Sawyers, Cody Slaughter): Introduced WIP storage, cutting costs by $245,784.00 per year. Overall Six Sigma Initiatives: * Achieved $1.7M in savings through 29 projects. * Plan to continue Yellow Belt training and emphasize leadership in implementing changes.

Our Human Resources and Administration team in Maine had the opportunity to connect and build relationships with members of Somic Ishikawa Inc. global HR team during their recent visit to America! 🇺🇸🇯🇵

SVAM would like to recognize Somic America, Inc. for sponsoring our upcoming Southwest Virginia Manufacturers’ Expo! Somic America, Inc. is a leading supplier to the automotive manufacturing market, specializing in the engineering, designing, and manufacturing of quality ball joints for suspension and steering systems and rotary dampers for seat and tailgate applications. Learn more about Somic America, Inc. at www.somicamerica.com Manufacturers interested in attending this year’s Expo can register at: https://ow.ly/14i350SXAn0

In 1937, Somic Ishikawa Inc., formerly known as Ishikawa Tekkojo, a small blacksmith shop that evolved into an automotive parts manufacturer, began its business relationship with Toyota Industries Corporation. Ishikawa Tekkojo crafted nuts and bolts for these original looms used by Toyota for fabric weaving in the early 1900s, establishing a lasting partnership that continues to thrive today worldwide. Currently at Somic Ishikawa's campus in Japan, the Ryoke museum still serves as a home for these fabric looms, showcasing the evolution of our manufacturing capabilities and provides interactive demonstrations on the original forging process.