The Cardinal Production System (CPS)

Cardinal Fastener began its lean manufacturing journey on June 12, 1998. What evolved was a companywide systematic process to identify and eliminate waste throughout the entire organization. This is how our Cardinal Production System (CPS) differs from most lean journeys in that it encompasses all operations within the company as well as those of our suppliers and customers. Benefits include significant improvements in lead time, cost, productivity, and quality. All of our associates are on our CPS journey with its constant emphasis on improvement.

The Lean Advantage

Cardinal Fastener is the only manufacturer in the fastener industry to fully embrace the concept of lean at all levels. The CPS benefits customers through higher quality levels of product and service and lower manufacturing costs. It even allows our sales team to take what was once a quoting process of a few days down to just a few minutes.

Award-Winning Service

Cardinal has received The Leading Edge Award for four years in a row from The Entrepreneurs EDGE Organization. They annually recognize companies bringing new business into the region that are generating the highest value for themselves and the northeast Ohio community. Cardinal received the award in acknowledgment of our accomplishments of making a difference in our community and also in creating value from the moment an order is received- as within just minutes, it’s routed and on the manufacturing floor for completion.

Cardinal was also honored to receive the 2010 Evolution of Manufacturing Award, for recognition of Northern Ohio manufacturers that best demonstrate the ability to adapt to the changing world and take manufacturing to the next level. The award honors these organizations for their ability to innovate, create and drive these processes resulting in a positive impact on their bottom line.

Sustainable Performance

We are not only lean, but also green. We care about our impact on the environment and strive for greater sustainability through our recycling programs, scrap metal disposal and reduction in carbon emissions and waste from the facility.

We use energy-efficient products and practices whenever possible, both on the plant floor and in the office. Going green is another path in our lean journey that we hope one day helps us achieve an ISO 14001 certification. This requires an organization to put in place and implement a series of practices and procedures that result in a complete environmental management system. We are also looking into onsite renewable energy sources to make an even greater impact on environmental sustainability in Cleveland and beyond.