O'Neal Steel picks ATS for machine maintenance

Advanced Technology Services Inc., a provider of managed production equipment maintenance and innovative IT solutions, announced an agreement with O'Neal Steel's Shelbyville, Ind., facility to provide production asset maintenance services. 

ATS will implement disciplined processes, systems and teams to improve the reliability and productivity of the key production assets, thereby enabling O'Neal Steel to maximize the performance of its facility.

"In today's economy, manufacturers are looking for ways to make their factories run better," said ATS president Jeffrey Owens. "Asset maintenance, keeping critical equipment running smoothly, will play a large part in supporting O'Neal Steel's lean manufacturing initiative and will help to squeeze more productivity and profitability from their bottom line."

The cost of asset failure can be expensive. One minute of equipment downtime costs an average $22,000, according to a recent survey of senior manufacturing executives sponsored by ATS and conducted by Nielsen.

"We look forward to working with ATS to find ways to increase the ability to provide our customers with the unmatched delivery, quality and cost they have come to expect from O'Neal Steel," said O’Neal Steel president and CEO Bill Jones.

O'Neal Steel, based in Birmingham, Ala., is the largest privately held processor and distributor of steel and specialty metals in the United States. The Shelbyville  facility is the single-largest processing center for O'Neal, employing more than 330 personnel. O'Neal Steel Inc. also owns Metalwest, Aerodyne Alloys, Leeco Steel, TW Metals, Timberline Steel and Ferguson Metals.

ATS pioneered the factory asset service business two decades ago, and today is the leading company providing managed services for production equipment maintenance, industrial parts repair and IT infrastructure support for manufacturers.