Sonju Industrial, Inc. of Kalispell Adopting Growth-driven Quality Standard

Sonju Industrial, Inc. http://www.anodizecoating.com has hired Kip Willis as Quality Manager to lead the company through certification to the AS9100B quality standard. Willis has an extensive background in quality systems and working with prime contractors in the aerospace industry.

He will work with Montana State University manufacturing specialists to make the conversion to AS9100B, a globally recognized aerospace-sector standard that defines quality system requirements for suppliers in that industry. The company has contracted with MSU’s Montana Manufacturing Extension Center http://www.mtmanufacturingcenter.com/ to conduct a gap assessment of Sonju’s current quality system and make recommendations for conformity to the AS standard in preparation for a third-party certification audit.

The company is already approved under BQMS, a stringent quality management system set by Boeing, and is D6-8247- Appendix B approved for production of fracture critical parts (wing and rear aft-fuselage) parts for the most sophisticated fighter in the world, the F-22 Raptor. Sonju Industrial also manufactures parts for Boeing commercial aircraft – 747, 777, 767, 737. The additional standard is a critical building block for its growing role in the aerospace market.

"Assessing our quality management system to the very stringent AS requirements provides a number of benefits," according to Richard Sonju who started the family-owned industrial coatings and machining corporation in 1978. "Adopting the standard demonstrates our continuing commitment to delivering quality products and services to customers."

It will also attract new customers to the company, one of the few service-connected disabled veteran businesses in the machining sector. And it should draw more long-term agreements with the primes.

"We’re very excited about expanding our market because increasing business from prime contractors will draw other exciting businesses to Montana and help with some of the challenges faced by Montana companies offering unique capabilities," Sonju said.

Some of those challenges have been created by geographic isolation from related industrial clusters with pools of highly skilled workers such as programmers, specialized machinists, and designers. As a cluster develops those and freight options also grow, he said.

Attaining the AS certification will allow Sonju to compete with other certified companies in the world. "It will demonstrate how we do business and put us on the map," said the founder.

In response to growing worldwide demand for its product, Sonju has invested in cellular technology in its machine shop and moved that division to the Kalispell Industrial Park last year. It also has the distinction of being one of only 13 companies being mentored by the US Air Force Manufacturing Technical Assistance Production Program (MTAPP) for high level manufacturing assistance, focused on incorporating Lean manufacturing techniques.

In anticipating additional growth, the new quality manager intents to build staffing with the skills to take on the challenges of the AS9100 certification. The company currently has 30 employees.

Contact Richard Sonju, Sonju Industrial, Inc. phone 406-752-4253
e-mail [email protected]