After a 3-year strike with the UAW, a maker of sought-after musical instruments was able to make major enhancements to production after the union was decertified. At the Vincent Bach trumpet plant in Elkhart, IN, pre-decertification compensation was based on piece-work quantity with no relation to quality. Becoming unencumbered with the union-driven plan has allowed inventory levels to remain at a just-in-time 3 to 4 day window, rather than an aisle-clogging and capital-consuming 12 months. Quality has risen significantly as a result, since defective parts are detected within 3-4 days, and production issues are pinpointed immediately. The change also allows the manufacturer to quickly fill orders for custom horns.
