From Intern to Impact: Adam’s Second Summer Driving Continuous Improvement at ASW

Marking his second summer with ASW, there is no question of the impact Adam has made at Associated Spot Welders.

At Associated Spot Welders (ASW), continuous improvement is more than a manufacturing philosophy it's part of our culture. We believe that every employee, regardless of experience level, has the ability to bringing new perspectives to identify opportunities, improve processes, and make a meaningful impact.

From the beginning of the internship, Adam approached each project with curiosity, attention to detail, and a desire to make our operations more efficient. Working alongside our production, engineering, and quality teams, he developed practical solutions that will continue delivering value long after his internship concludes.

Improving Production Visibility

One of Adam's primary projects was developing a Machine Scheduling and Production Leveling Board to provide better visibility into shop scheduling.

The new system allows Production Leads to proactively schedule work without relying on constant management oversight. By improving production planning, the board helps maximize machine utilization, reduce idle time, and identify future capacity constraints that can become opportunities for additional process improvements.

The result is a more organized workflow and improved communication across the production floor.

Standardizing Production Routing

Consistency is critical in aerospace manufacturing, where every process must meet stringent customer and quality requirements.

Adam developed Production Routing Templates that standardize routing documentation for new parts. These templates reduce engineering and administrative effort by approximately one hour for every new part introduced while improving consistency throughout the production process.

The standardized approach also helps minimize routing errors and supports compliance with customer specifications, allowing our team to work more efficiently while maintaining the high quality standards our customers expect.

Essential Inventory Management

Even small operational improvements can have a significant impact on daily production.

To improve inventory control, Adam created Consumable Reorder Cards that clearly identify the required item, supplier, and reorder quantity for critical shop consumables.

This simple visual system helps prevent shortages before they occur, empowers employees to take ownership of inventory management, and reduces the time required to replenish essential supplies that keep production moving.

Adam's Impact

While Adam's technical projects created measurable operational benefits, his greatest contribution may have been his willingness to learn and his commitment to ASW's mission.

Throughout the internship, he brought positive energy, asked thoughtful questions, collaborated across departments, and consistently met, or exceeded, the expectations of every project assigned to him.

His work reflects an important principle at ASW: continuous improvement isn't limited to equipment or processes. It starts with people who are willing to observe, learn, and make meaningful changes.

"Working at ASW was an amazing experience! From being able to work on routing with e2, helping the shop be more organized and save the guys a bunch of time, or even just being there helping with whatever they needed. I have learned a lot over my time and I thank Brad and the guys for that. I also really appreciate ASW and Ibrahim for bringing me back a second time and hope that one day be employed with you guys!"

Building the Future of Manufacturing

At ASW, we believe internships should provide meaningful, hands-on experiences that allow future engineers to contribute to real manufacturing challenges, not simply observe them.

By giving students the opportunity to work alongside experienced professionals, we're investing in the next generation of manufacturing while strengthening our own operations through fresh ideas and new perspectives.

We're incredibly proud of Adam's accomplishments during his second summer with ASW and grateful for the lasting improvements he has made.

We wish him continued success as he completes his final year of his engineering program and look forward to seeing where his career takes him.

Because when we invest in people, we build a stronger future—for our company, our industry, and manufacturing as a whole.