About
Located in Greeneville, Tennessee, MECO Corp. is one of the largest privately-held corporations in East TN and has been in continuous operation for over 60 years. They have developed a reputation for on-time delivery, exceeding quality standards, and outstanding value. Meco’s capabilities include metal stamping, deep draw, CNC machining, welding, powder coating, assembly, packaging, and design support. Retail Products manufactured at MECO include the nationally distributed Americana grills and smokers. MECO also sources, warehouses, and distributes the Stakmore wood folding furniture and Sudden Comfort steel folding furniture.
The Challenge
Over the past several years, the company has been investing to expand its capacity, capitalizing on a changing economy where speed to market and the ability to rapidly restock matters. With growth came the need to understand and optimize internal processes and to provide support for team building and leadership skills. A long-time Tennessee Manufacturing Extension Partnership (TMEP) client, Meco contacted TMEP, part of the MEP National Network™, to request assistance in providing vital learning and quality training.
MEP's Role
With funding available through the MEP National Network CARES grant, TMEP assisted Meco in facilitating an onsite Advanced Product Quality Planning (APQP) workshop and an onsite Vital Learning Communicating Up leadership essentials workshop. The company additionally had supervisors attend several open enrollment style leadership essentials workshops. APQP is a structured approach to product and process design and provides a framework for a standardized set of quality requirements that enable suppliers to design a product that satisfies the customer. The onsite workshop was conducted with a team of seven employees over an eight-hour day and included lecture and hands on activities to reinforce learning. The leadership essentials classes are four-hour classes that also include lecture, hands-on activities and role playing.
