Page 8 - HIWT Summer 2012 World of Welding

THE WORLD OF WELDING http://www.welding.org

SCHUETTE METALS: DEvELOPING BETTER WELDERS

USING HOBART INSTITUTE TRAINING MATERIALS

Schuette Metals, a Wisconsin-based metal fabricator, “It is beneficial for industry clients to utilize the HIWT
selected training materials from Hobart Institute to help train curriculum to develop proper training programs on-site to
the company’s welders. The reason? It is all about quality. enhance their tools to attract new talent, provide training for

Every one of the company’s 160 employees, including its new hires, and to invest in and retain existing employees,”
75 welders, focuses on improving skills and in turn, quality says Scott Mazzulla, Director of Planning and Development
products. Hobart Institute’s curriculum materials will help for Hobart Institute.
Schuette’s current and future welders improve skills to the
next level. Tony Schmidt explains, “We are always trying to find people
who have the welding skills we need. There are new advances
“We chose Hobart because their training materials emphasize in manufacturing technology every day. It’s a challenge
fundamental principles of welding technology and practices,” finding people with that level of welding skills.”
said Tony Schmidt, Quality Manager and Certified Welding
Inspector for Schuette Metals. “Hobart provides materials Schuette Metals started as a two-person job shop in 1973. In its
that are easy to understand and it allows us to tailor training 39 years, the company experienced tremendous growth caused
to fit our needs.” by the same commitment to quality. That commitment to
quality reached new levels with their ISO 9001:2008 registered
Some may ask, “Why do your own training when you can designation. With 112,000 square feet of manufacturing
hire those already trained?” Simple. Welders aren’t always capacity—all in a controlled environment—Schuette Metals
available. can work on any project large or small, completing it quickly
and efficiently.

One strength of Schuette Metals is its welding capabilities
over a broad spectrum of metal thicknesses, including high-
strength steel. The full-service fabrication shop has some of
the industry’s latest technology ensuring precision parts and
an efficient job flow. However, company officials believe
it’s the intangibles Schuette offers that separate it from the
competition. Intangibles like:
• An on-staff certified welding inspector to ensure
welding quality
• A proactive engineering staff that offers improved
design suggestions and provides support for the
customer’s engineering staff
• Quick response time to answer questions, deliver
quotes, provide project status and delivery updates
• Reducing lead time for customer by manufacturing
parts to an agreed upon level of completion, then
inventorying until needed
• Providing value-added services like powder and
e-coating through Central Wisconsin Finishing,
Schuette’s sister company adjacent to the facility
• Flexibility in packaging and delivery of products.

The company invested CAD/CAM/CIM software to make
manufacturing more efficient by sending 2D and 3D designs
directly to CNC equipment on the shop floor via an office-to-
shop computer network. Its extensive use of CNC equipment
improves speed and quality to ensure competitive pricing and
lead times. (Continued on page 9)

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