East Penn Manufacturing

Founded in 1946, Berks County-based East Penn Manufacturing Company is the maker of the industry-leading Deka brand of batteries.  The company’s lead-acid batteries and wire and cable products are known throughout the world–as are its battery accessories for the industrial, automotive, commercial, marine, stationary and specialty markets.

“MRC helps us think strategically when it comes to quality and continuous improvement.” – Mike Capozzi, Vice President, East Penn Manufacturing

An independent and progressive company committed to the future, East Penn owns and operates the largest single-site battery manufacturing facility in the industry –3.5 million square feet under roof on a 520 acre site. The company’s plants feature state-of-the-art computer monitoring and control systems, making it the most technologically advanced manufacturer in the battery industry.  East Penn is an aggressive job creator in the Lehigh Valley region.  Last month, the company announced plans to construct a $50 million, 458,000 square foot manufacturing facility. The new plant is expected to add 400 workers to the over 6,000 East Penn already employs in Pennsylvania.

Situation 

East Penn’s many customers rely on the company’s products every day, whether for business use or their own personal vehicles. East Penn, in turn, takes that trust seriously. The company is absolutely dedicated to that every piece that leaves its facility is ready to provide years of trouble-free service. In practice, that means East Penn is on the cutting edge of continuous improvement and quality management programs. ISO 9001. ISO/TS 16949. ISO 14001. FMEA. Lean. Six Sigma. If there’s a proven way to improve operations and deliver higher-quality products more efficiently, you can bet that East Penn has explored or adopted it.  Of course, researching continuous improvement strategies, finding the right practitioners and making the necessary arrangements takes plenty of time. And that’s not a luxury East Penn – a rapidly growing manufacturer – enjoys. The company needed a partner who could advise and facilitate its robust continuous improvement strategy – and do it affordably and reliably.  They found that partner in Manufacturers Resource Center (MRC), a nonprofit organization partially funded by the NIST-MEP program and the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania’s Department of Community and Economic Development.

Solution 

East Penn’s first experience with MRC came in 2010, after the Lyon Station company found it imperative to partner with a new continuous improvement strategy provider.  Many of the other alternative vendors were part of larger training conglomerates that didn’t meet the company’s specialized needs. Finding the right match financially and strategically became of extreme importance to East Penn.  They found that match in MRC, which immediately impressed East Penn with its experience, capabilities and domain expertise. The Bethlehem-based nonprofit fast became East Penn’s exclusive vendor for quality and continuous improvement services.  “From that point on, we’ve developed a beneficial relationship with MRC,” said Mike Capozzi, East Penn’s Vice President, Quality and Continuous Improvement. “They provide us with a full suite of continuous improvement consulting and training services. In fact, we haven’t had to go outside MRC since we got involved with them. They provide a trusted single point of contact for quality and continuous improvement – that’s immensely valuable to us.”  MRC has provided East Penn with a plethora of quality and continuous improvement services. They include:

  • Ongoing Six Sigma, Black Belt, Lean, Hoshin, MMOG and FMEA training, including monthly meetings with active Black Belts
  • Arrangements for local ISO/TS internal auditing, saving East Penn thousands vs. travel to a centralized auditing hub
  • A successful nationwide search for an advanced product quality planning (APQP) trainer

Results 

Thanks in part to MRC, East Penn’s quality and continuous improvement efforts have never been smoother. Ongoing projects and initiatives are handled with care, and when East Penn needs something new, MRC is the first – and only – place they call.  “Our quality and continuous improvement programs are, first and foremost, driven by data,” Capozzi said. “Data drives most of the decisions we make. Thus, we expect our Black Belts to be top-notch. MRC has been very, very informative for them – and for the company as a whole. They’re up to date with not just the technology, but also the newest methodology. “MRC helps us think strategically when it comes to quality and continuous improvement.”

  • MRC provides a full suite of continuous improvement & quality services
  • MRC provides a trusted single point of contact as a dedicated training resource
  • MRC is the right match financially and strategically

Contact Us

Contact Us

Don’t see what you are looking for or have a question? MRC can help. Contact us today!

Training and Certifications

MRC provides far more than certifications and funding assistance. We offer job creators access to specialized coaching, mentorship and a variety of business and marketing assistance normally outside the reach of most manufacturers.

Solutions

No matter what’s happening with your business, MRC has probably seen it. We know the problems that keep CEOs up at night, and we know how to help solve them. Our staff has more than 100 years of combined experience working side-by-side with business owners to evaluate, strategize, discover and implement solutions that address both strategic growth needs and organizational transformation.

Training & Events Calendar

MRC breaks down the barriers that prohibit manufacturers from realizing their full potential. Our proven tactics and methods can help nearly any company at nearly any stage of its evolution. Whatever the hurdle – going green, becoming lean, entering new markets, rebranding the company – MRC can help you clear it.

Workforce Initiatives

Developing Future Workforce with programs like: What’s So Cool About Manufacturing®, PA Dream Team, the Inside Manufacturing Series, and Manufacturing Day.

Resources

Through our partnerships, we are able to bring the horsepower of the best-in-breed experts to you. Imagine having access to the second-largest technology institute in the world, a corps of ex-Toyota executives trained under the best Lean practitioners in the world or world-renowned business strategy groups. MRC makes it possible.

About Us

For over 30 years, Manufacturers Resource Center (MRC) has helped small and mid-sized manufacturers become more competitive, adopt lean and agile processes, strategically grow their companies and invest more effectively in their existing human capital.

My Account

Ready to complete your event registration? Need to confirm the date of a previous registration? Find all these details here or call us at (610) 628-4640 for additional assistance.