MEP Driving Success at Schafer Driveline

Schafer Driveline is one of the largest manufacturers of small axles for golf cars and light utility vehicles in the world. Beyond golf car axles, Schafer also manufactures axles and transmissions for high-speed ATVs and side-by-sides. Schafer is headquartered in South Bend, Indiana, and operates facilities in Roscoe, Illinois; Fredericktown, Ohio; and Blacklick, Ohio.

Schafer's Vice President approached the Ohio MEP, part of the MEP National Network™, for assistance in evaluating their facility layout in light of four new assembly lines scheduled to be online in the next 12 month period. In addition, they would be revamping their high-capacity product line, which had experienced minimal updates since launching in 2001. The company was unsure of the capability of the facility in its current state to successfully manage these changes.  

The MEP worked with Mainspring Solutions to develop physical building requirements and recommendations for preferred methods for material handling and product storage. The team then facilitated a half-day "paper doll" facility layout exercise with the Schafer team utilizing the recommendations and requirements. Ultimately, this exercise resulted in the development of a facility layout that would accommodate the necessary changes in their existing space. This saved the company because they were able to avoid a building expansion.