Beyond the Machine: How Operational Excellence Drives Winslow's On-Time Delivery

At Winslow Automatics, we don't believe in crossing our fingers and hoping for the best. We don't slap machines together and then check for problems. Instead, we bake quality assurance into every step of our process, starting with how we think about design.

Why Most Companies Get Quality Backwards

Walk through any factory, and you'll see teams inspecting finished products, tweaking components and reworking parts that didn't come out right. That’s the old way of doing things; fixing mistakes after they happen. At Winslow, we take a different approach: we prevent mistakes before they can even occur.

How? By sweating the details at the drawing board, not the assembly line.

At Winslow Automatics, we deliver parts on time, every time. Since 1956, our family-owned business has built a reputation for reliability, quality, and efficiency. But what really sets us apart is the way we work. 

By taking advantage of lean manufacturing principles, we’ve streamlined our processes, eliminated waste, and created a system that keeps production moving smoothly from start to finish.

The Winslow Way: Lean Manufacturing in Action

Lean manufacturing is the backbone of how we operate. When George Podlasek founded Winslow Automatics with only two machines and a small team, efficiency wasn’t optional; it was necessary for survival. Today, with a 65,000-square-foot facility and a skilled workforce, those same principles guide everything we do.

1. Minimizing Waste Without Cutting Corners

Waste slows production, drives up costs, and delays deliveries. For us, waste equals unnecessary steps, downtime and inefficiencies. By analyzing every stage of production, we identify bottlenecks and refine workflows. Whether it’s reducing excess movement between workstations or fine-tuning inventory management, we make sure nothing slows us down.

2. Continuous Improvement Keeps Us Ahead

Stagnation isn’t an option in manufacturing. We encourage our team to spot areas for improvement and implement solutions quickly. Small, incremental changes (like adjusting machine setups or refining quality checks) add up to big gains in speed and consistency. This culture of problem-solving means we’re always finding better ways to work.

3. Flexibility Without Sacrificing Reliability

From aerospace components to medical devices, we serve industries where deadlines are fixed. Lean manufacturing lets us pivot when needed without disrupting schedules. Whether it’s a last-minute adjustment or a high-volume order, our processes adapt while keeping deliveries on track.

The Proof Is in the Performance

Our lean approach isn’t theoretical but measurable. By reducing unnecessary steps, we shorten lead times. By maintaining strict quality controls, we avoid costly rework. And by empowering our team to refine operations, we stay ahead of demand. 

The result? A track record of dependable and on-time deliveries that our customers count on.

Built for the Long Haul

Manufacturing is about building trust. For nearly seven decades, Winslow Automatics has earned that trust by combining skilled craftsmanship with smart processes. 

Lean manufacturing isn’t a one-time project for us; it’s how we’ve operated since day one. And as we grow, those same principles will keep us delivering on time, every time.