Parkdale Mills management understood they must successfully bring a complicated new yarn to market or close their aging textile plant in Belmont. They decided to try a Six Sigma approach with the help of NC State University. Last May, after months of work, the plant produced a highly technical yarn that puts the stretch in stretch denim, with better quality and at a better price than the competition. The plant got a new lease on life and 100 jobs were saved.
“This product and this project saved this plant,” says Dan Nation, president of Parkdale Mills. Much of the credit goes to the Industrial Extension Service and the College of Textiles at NC State University, which provided specialized Six Sigma training for Parkdale Mills.
The Industrial Extension Service brings NC State’s vast expertise to real business. More than 1,000 North Carolina companies asked IES last year for assistance to implement Six Sigma or Lean manufacturing, or to become ISO registered, or to learn how to be both environmentally friendly and profitable.
These companies reported last year $93 million in economic impact from IES services. Profits grew and jobs were saved. With IES offices throughout North Carolina, we can help your business, too.
September 2002
