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Optimizing Operations: Cost Effective Equipment's Path to Greater Efficiency

With the help of: Missouri Enterprise

About

Cost Effective Equipment, LLC (Cee®), established in 1987 and headquartered in St. James, Missouri, is a distinguished provider of high-performance wafer processing equipment for the semiconductor industry. Renowned for its precision engineering and commitment to innovation, the company delivers industry-leading solutions for research and development and small-volume production laboratories and fabrication facilities. With a diverse product portfolio encompassing spin coaters, bake plates, spin developers, and temporary wafer bonders and debonders, Cee delivers solutions designed to ensure superior uniformity and durability without the complexities of a track system. Supported by a global network of trained distributors, Cost Effective Equipment ensures unparalleled customer support and cutting-edge solutions to meet the evolving needs of its clients worldwide.

The Challenge

As Cee prepared for a significant expansion and relocation to a larger facility, it became evident that maintaining momentum required enhanced efficiencies to keep pace with growth. While exploring the many possibilities within lean, they came across an advertisement for a Lean 101 simulation offered by Missouri Enterprise, part of the MEP National Network™. Recognizing the value of a hands-on experience, they saw this as an opportunity to immerse themselves in lean principles and implement impactful improvements across the organization.
In the real world, it can take months to see the benefits of change. The Missouri Enterprise lean simulations quickly showed how small adjustments can make or break your workflow. We encountered bottlenecks in real time and implemented solutions that addressed symptoms rather than root causes. By the end, our process flowed like a well-oiled machine, and we gained valuable insights into the importance of the big picture. Many thanks to Missouri Enterprise for providing such engaging, fun, and insightful instruction and support.
— Jenny, Adams

MEP's Role

Missouri Enterprise hosted several Lean 101 workshops in the area, which provided an opportunity for Cee to send several employees to participate. Equipped with valuable insights, these employees returned and shared their knowledge with the team, inspiring a deeper commitment to lean principles. Later, once Cee was operating in its new facility, the company engaged a project manager from Missouri Enterprise to conduct a facility walkthrough. This visit offered constructive feedback on existing strengths, opportunities for improvement, and recommendations for optimizing the layout of the new space. With the training and guidance from Missouri Enterprise, Cee’s employees were able to align on processes, significantly enhancing their operational efficiency and fostering a culture of continuous improvement.
Created January 30, 2025