KPAK Aero Systems LLC is a wholly owned subsidiary of Seamech International, Inc. and provides specialized environmental system products for the aerospace industry. Though KPAK’s capabilities parallel Seamech’s, KPAK maintains its own brand recognition.
RELENTLESS FLIGHT TO QUALITY
Our Quality Mission
It is the intention to develop, implement and maintain a strong, customer-focused Quality Management System based on AS standards that are appropriate for our size and organization. Seamech is committed to customer satisfaction by meeting and exceeding customer expectations through teams working together to provide the highest quality products. Seamech’s QMS is designed and tailored to meet the applicable requirements of AS9100 & ISO 9001 guidelines, and all pertinent regulatory authorities.
Quality Policy
Seamech International, Inc. will market, fabricate, and service products of such quality that they will reliably perform to their intended function. Through active top management involvement and continual improvement methodologies, Seamech International, Inc. will make every effort to provide parts and services that will consistently exceed the customer’s expectations.
- Seamech maintains a quality management system compliant to AS9100 and customer specific requirements.
- AS9100 certification/registration is expected during the first quarter of 2015
- Safety and reliability analysis conducted on initial design activity to discover quality or life issues which may affect system long term operating costs.
- Hardware is selected or a design is promoted based on proven experience in similar aircraft, duty cycle, weight and performance goals.
- New technologies are rigorously tested to ensure they will meet design and operating requirements.
When prototype designs are nearly complete, a final design review with Seamech and the customer ensures the product is ready for final testing and production development.
Seamech believes that fine products are the result of challenging ourselves continuously. The process of continually refining the design, at each developmental phase, results in excellence. Continuous improvement must be accounted for in all areas. From the moment a customer interfaces with our intelligently designed controls, the premium presence of the product is recognized.
Regarding Seamech’s latest refrigeration compressor pallet, Mike Harness, VP and General Manger, said, ” Seamech’s development team along with the collaboration of industry leading motor, motor controller and thermal design engineers, has developed a direct drive refrigerant compressor system with a 28 volt DC brushless motor to solve both weight and performance related issues associated with legacy electrically driven compressor systems on aircraft. By using cutting edge motor and controller design solutions, Seamech was able to produce a reliable, direct drive compressor system that saved over 14 pounds of weight compared to an existing refrigerant compressor installation, provided a motor with an efficiency rating exceeding 94% and allowed for active cooling of the motor controller to extend electronic component life “.
Drue Nixon, Director of Engineering, remarked, “Seamech is about opportunities. I feel privileged to have had multiple opportunities to design environmental systems on a clean sheet of paper, with unanimous support from Seamech leadership”.
Seamech has been committed, from the very beginning, to producing environmental systems and associated products that meet global standards of quality. As the evolution continued, there was little doubt that to continue to work to that objective, a new manufacturing facility would need to be developed. The new facility has been carefully designed to produce high quality products and to be intelligently flexible.
Highest Quality
Seamech’s manufacturing and logistics processes are designed to produce the highest quality of products. The first step to developing a high quality product is to start with the optimal concept. Seamech’s engineers work together with their suppliers to design environmental systems with consistent high quality. Seamech’s manufacturing approach is focused on repeatedly producing exceptional products at an efficient rate.
- Quality processes are continually monitored and any issues are immediately resolved.
- Dedicated work-cell supply utilizing a receiving inspection designed to avoid wrong or defective parts from entering the assembly process
- Supplier preparation and closed loop problem solving
In the work-cells, in-line quality checks using “Quality Gates” are used for the early detection of deviations from Seamech’s high-quality standards. If a deviation is identified and cannot be immediately eliminated, production on the associated component is consequently halted until the issue is found and resolved. It is this careful attention to detail that is fundamental to Seamech in order to produce high-quality components that meet the expectations of the customer.
The inventory component of Seamech’s approach to achieving high quality products is the close cooperation with suppliers. Our director of quality works with suppliers in the preparation, introduction and supply of our parts. Some of the critical subassemblies, such as wiring harnesses or electronic modules are pre-assembled at the supplier’s facility. Seamech’s quality system includes provisions for regular inspection and auditing of suppliers’ facilities and quality systems. This allows rapid quality feedback and accelerated quality improvement.
Strategic outsourcing
Seamech continues to adopt highly efficient principles along the production line. Within the business, this includes creating a flat hierarchy, more responsibility for each managerial level, continuous competence from bottom to top and improved internal and external communication.
This same communication also extends to the way Seamech cooperates with its suppliers. From the earliest days, we recognized that a critical success factor is the integration of external suppliers as development and production partners. The definition of parts and systems specifications are undertaken in conjunction with, rather than being imposed upon, world-class suppliers such as Bosch, Tyco Electronics, Amphenol, Aeroquip, Goodyear, Parker Hanofin, Honeywell, Micronel and Molex. This means that their expert input and advice flows, largely unfiltered, into the equipment selection and the component optimization process.
Embracing their experience and high quality technological developments, Seamech works closely with its suppliers to ensure that our current and future products will be able to compete effectively with rival products from other brands across every facet of design, engineering, development and production. Through extensive strategic outsourcing, Seamech has remained agile and lean, retaining a fixed cost base estimated to be less than many of our competitors.
Responsibilities to employees
As well as experience in the manufacturing industry, recruitment of the workforce for Seamech’s new facility in Arizona included significant emphasis on applicants’ aerospace experience and educational background. Much of the workforce has previous experience working for aerospace component manufacturers. Seamech takes its responsibility for its employees very seriously and is committed to dedicated training and development programs for them.
Technical and professional training
Employees are encouraged to complete development and certification courses to further their technical skills. The objectives of training include learning new skills, improving the employees’ practical capabilities as well as development of leadership skills.
Training and development program
Each new employee embarks on a comprehensive in-house training program. This allows Seamech to create the right mind set, focusing on state-of-the-art LEAN principles right from the beginning. The program improves efficiency, motivation, safety and increases productivity. Each of these activities promotes and emphasizes Seamech’s strong commitment to the concept of quality, which is at the heart of our organization.
