America is getting to know the all new Hardinge Inc.(production strategies)(Cover story)

A few years ago, Hardinge Inc. undertook a redesign of its plant utilizing Kanban--updating its manufacturing process and creating a cleaner, leaner, and more efficient factory. Then, after a few rough years for the overall machine tool market, Hardinge posted a 13-percent increase in net sales for 2006 over 2005 and is adding people to its operations.

With such a good year behind the Elmira, NY, company, it only made sense for Hardinge to build on that positive trend by taking a look at its machines to determine what improvements would be beneficial to its customers.