Tom Der Tatevasion, field engineer at TMAC's South Central Regional office in San Antonio, has what it takes to bring positive change to small manufacturers. Only when we understand a manufacturer's goals and concerns can we then translate them into opportunities and results. Trained in industrial engineering and certified in such fields as manufacturing, quality, and production and inventory control, Der Tatevasion joined Southwest Research Institute in 1984. When TMAC was formed in 1995, he became one of its first staff engineers. Once they determine their mission, we can work together to establish policies and procedures to realize it.
Most manufacturers are passionate about their business.
Not all can tolerate change, however. It's often easy to see problems on a manufacturing line when a piece of equipment or an operator isn't performing to standards. It's harder to see problems in the office involving ordering, purchasing, and communications. That's why TMAC applies Process Mapping, which can be done with such simple tools as post-it notes, a clean wall, and markers. We expose the process in raw form and determine the effectiveness of each step.