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News from Torotel
February 2008 Issue
Welcome to the first edition of Torotel Products' e-newsletter! Each issue will offer customer success stories, company and industry news and product profiles. This issue includes a case study of how working with one of our suppliers helped us create a custom solution for a customer; a look at how implementing the Supplier Excellence Alliance (SEA) Lean Enterprise System has dramatically improved our productivity; and an article about how Torotel's dedication to overall performance resulted in the Lockheed Martin ESBA STAR Award.
Sincerely,
Herb Sizemore
Torotel Products, Inc. CEO
Torotel Uses Kool Mµ® Segmented Toroid for Boost Inductor
 Torotel Products is a leader in the design and manufacture of magnetics for the aerospace, defense and industrial sectors. Torotel's name is synonymous with innovation, so when Magnetics introduced its segmented Kool Mµ® toroid line, Torotel was one of the first companies to design in the 00K133TC026 (26µ 133 millimeter O.D. toroid).
Torotel had originally contemplated using a large 26µ Kool Mµ E core for the 125 amp boost inductor application, but found the inefficient use of the window and the inadequate shielding would not work with the design. The solution was to stack two of the 00K133TC026 and wind at 35 turns with 5 strands of #8 AWG.
Torotel did have initial concerns regarding ease of winding. However, this design offered very low audible noise, good magnetic shielding and low core loss; all desirable characteristics for the mobile military application.
Timing also played a key role in the final design of this inductor. Dave Monroe, Senior Product Development Engineer at Torotel Products, states that “Magnetics’ applications team was helpful in supplying material quickly to meet a very aggressive development schedule.”
Torotel found Magnetics’ Kool Mµ segment toroids to be the perfect solution for this inductor application. The properties of Kool Mµ and increased size of the segmented toroid met the key criteria for Torotel’s boost inductor.
For more information on Torotel Products, please visit www.torotelproducts.com or email info@torotelproducts.com.
For more information on Magnetics’ large toroidal Kool Mµ segments
contact magnetics@spang.com or view the Magnetics technical bulletin.
SEA member, Torotel Products, announces breakthrough performance improvements
Irvine, California – January 28, 2008 – Torotel Products, Inc. CEO, Herb Sizemore reports dramatic performance improvements resulting from implementation of the Supplier Excellence Alliance (SEA) Lean Enterprise System, the aerospace and defense industry-approved continuous improvement system.
Founded in 1956, Torotel Products is based in Olathe, Kansas. As the major designer and manufacturer of magnetic components and assemblies for the aerospace and defense industry, Torotel creates high-reliability transformers, inductors, custom magnetics, and assemblies.
“The SEA Lean Enterprise System has been the perfect vehicle to advance our ongoing commitment to continuous improvement. It’s been less than a year now since we launched the Lean Enterprise System and our progress in making key improvements to our business has been nothing short of remarkable,” observes Sizemore. “Our lead times have gone from 65 days in most cases down to 16
days. On-time delivery has improved from 90% to 97% - and we’re not done yet.”
SEA is the non-profit alliance of aerospace and defense prime and tier-one contractors and leading sub-tier suppliers organized to transform the global supply chain. Prime-empowered and supplier-led, SEA helps improve the performance of small and mid-sized production suppliers.
Improved supplier performance is accomplished through the SEA Lean Enterprise System, the continuous improvement system designed by the industry to improve business performance in all areas of a supplier company, from the production floor to the front office. The SEA Lean Enterprise System features three tracks: Leadership & Culture, to establish a new organizational culture and the
infrastructure to support performance improvement; Workforce Development, to ensure standard work and sustainable improvements; Operational Excellence, to focus on making breakthrough operational improvements.
“Our improvement efforts to date have focused on the manufacturing floor, sales, and engineering,” notes Sizemore. “It’s been especially encouraging to see how our employees have become involved. They’re not only open to new ideas, but they’re aggressively looking for ways to do things better.”
SEA member companies represented on its board of directors include The Boeing Company, Lockheed Martin Corporation, Northrop Grumman Corporation, United Technologies, Inc., Parker Aerospace, Rockwell Collins, Cessna Aircraft Company, Honeywell Aerospace, Hitco Carbon Composites, Dresser-Rand, Roberts Tool Company, Cristek Interconnects, Photo Etch Company, Bodycote Thermal Processing, and DRS Technologies.
SEA sponsors include Mori Seiki and Avchem.
SEA partners and alliances include Society of Manufacturing Engineers (SME), International Aerospace Quality Group (IAQG), California Council for Excellence, California Employment Training Panel, California Space Authority, UAW-Labor Employment and Training Corporation, CONNSTEP, Inc., Alliance for Manufacturing & Technology (AM&T), ASG Renaissance, and Net-Inspect.
To learn more about Torotel Products, visit its website at www.torotelprod.com. To learn more about SEA, visit the SEA website at www.seaonline.org.
Lockheed Martin Honors Torotel Products, Inc. with STAR Status
 For 35 years, Torotel Products, Inc., of Olathe, Kan., has supplied custom magnetic products for Lockheed Martin [NYSE: LMT]. Each year, the advanced technology company recognizes their best suppliers with preferred supplier awards. In 2007, Lockheed Martin honored Torotel Products with the Electronic Systems Business Area STAR Award.
Lockheed Martin introduced the Electronic Systems Business Area STAR Award to improve supply chain business partnerships and recognize top-performing suppliers within the organization. Out of thousands of suppliers, the STAR status is given only to Lockheed Martin suppliers that meet some of the most stringent performance criteria in the aerospace industry. For Torotel, the STAR status means visibility across the Lockheed Martin Corporation, resulting in increased business opportunities. Herb Sizemore, Torotel’s chief executive, attributes this achievement to his dedicated staff and their commitment to creating top quality products.
“We strive to deliver quality products on time with an incomparable price-to-performance value,” said Sizemore. “Whether we’re making prototypes or custom designs, our components and systems not only meet, but exceed industry standards.”
A team from Lockheed Martin evaluated Torotel for the award based on an almost flawless standard for product quality, delivery, affordability and management/ administration. Because of Torotel’s consistent on-time delivery of quality products, and high scores throughout the evaluation, the company achieved a score of 99.74 percent for quality and 100 percent for delivery in 2007, earning the prestigious STAR distinction.
“This is a very important award for us because it reflects our company-wide dedication to customer satisfaction – from concept to finished product,” said Sizemore.
In the award letter, Jeffrey Caldwell, Lockheed Martin’s director of Quality and Mission Success, wrote, “We recognize that your performance is key to our success, and we are fortunate to have Torotel Products, Inc. as a business partner.”
In 2004, Torotel received Lockheed Martin’s Silver Preferred Supplier Award for its performance producing and delivering products for Missiles and Fire Control programs, which automatically nominated the company for the Electronic Systems Business Area STAR award. Sizemore credits his experienced staff and lean manufacturing principles for their achieving the higher STAR honor.
“Our focus is and always has been commitment to total service,” said Sizemore. “So as long as we continue to focus on our core values in our manufacturing process, we’re confident that we’ll maintain our STAR status.”
Torotel was nominated for the Electronic Systems Business Area STAR award in 2006 and was awarded at the 2007 supplier conference. Including Torotel, there are currently only 126 STAR-level suppliers for Lockheed Martin’s Electronic Systems Business Area.
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