February 2020 Volume 2

ASSOCIATION NEWS

FIA Plant Engineering and Safety Committees Meet at Asahi Bluegrass Forge

What is 1,727 days you ask? An incredible safety record, and the number of days (as of January 17, 2020) Asahi Bluegrass Forge has gone without a recordable safety incident. The Plant Engineering and Safety Committees got under the hood to see just how the associates at Asahi Bluegrass Forge accomplish this all while maintaining a rigorous production schedule of mostly automotive closed die forgings at a high level of quality. Thirty-five committee members toured the plant and then met for their regular committee meetings in Richmond, Kentucky – 30 minutes south of Lexington.

• Forklifts with advanced safety features – lighting, back up camera with sensors and no-start without safety belt fastened feature • Color-coded product lines, equipment and walking pathways • Associate exercise program and focus on best practice ergonomic movements • Breakrooms near presses with rehydration beverages and popsicle treats • Targeted cooling vents on presses and other hot areas If you are interested in joining the Plant Engineering or Safety Committee, please contact Angela Gibian, FIA Events Manager, at angela@forging.org or phone (216) 781-6260. ■

Executive Committee member Mike Gill of LASCO Engineering Services presents an appreciation plaque to Makoto “Mack” Ishigaki, President of Asahi Bluegrass Forge Plant tour and meeting highlights included the following: • Dinner at School Sushi in Lexington – one of the trendiest sushi establishments in the heart of the Lexington restaurant district • Company presentation by President Mack Ishigaki outlining the company’s operating philosophy of deep respect for their associates and their formula of good working conditions + • A 1.5 hour plant tour where numerous safety and production innovations were on display, including an opening PPE booth complete with a mannequin in full PPE; rotating safety tip board with MDSD sheets, example good/bad hand tool examples. • Safety & production metrics displayed for the plant

The Plant Engineering Committee meets in the Asahi Bluegrass Forge cafeteria. PE Committee Chair Perry Bennett (standing) addresses the group.

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