PRODUCTS FINISHING — PFonline.com
29
THE VOICE OF FINISHING
80
YEARS
TOP SHOPS
How to Become a Top Shop
The Products Finishing Top Shops
Benchmarking Survey is conducted
every year, with the electroplating
survey in the spring and liquid and powder
coating survey in the fall.
The survey consists of almost
50 questions about finishing
operations, including questions
regarding best finishing prac-
tices, finishing technology
and business operations, as
well as employee training
and human resources.
All shops that complete the
Products Finishing Top Shops
Benchmarking Survey receive
three detailed data reports that
separate the survey data into catego-
ries that include: type of finishing business (job shop,
contract shop or captive operation), number of employees
and the comparison between the Top Shops benchmarking
group and the rest of the survey participants. This bench-
marking group represents the top percentage of shops
determined by totaling the points from select business- and
technology-related questions.
These reports not only serve as a baseline "report card"
of sorts, but also provide hard data that will eliminate the
need to rely on gut feelings as a method of identifying and
prioritizing improvement efforts.
In the meantime, how can your shop prepare to earn the
Top Shop status?
The first step is to compare your shop's performance
with the best in the business using this year's Top Shops
Executive Summary, and then formulate a plan for improve-
ment in areas such as finishing technology, performance
and practices, business strategy and human resources.
The best place to go for additional help and training
is through trade organizations such as the National
Association for Surface Finishing (NASF) and the Aluminum
Anodizers Council (AAC). The NASF and the AAC can help
captive and job shops that want to increase efficiency,
improve their bottom line and work their way toward
becoming a Top Shop.
Both organizations offer a variety of training and educa-
tional programs designed to help personnel improve their
shop's performance. Working with the AESF Foundation,
the NASF holds in-person and online electroplating courses
to help shops train its staffs in the latest and most effective
processes.
By joining a local NASF chapter, your shop may attend
monthly training and information-gathering sessions,
designed to help your shop run smoothly and productively.