“Leading the Improvement Army”

Russell Espinosa, President and COO of SCP Limited at the core is an “operations guy”. With a robust lean background, the hands-on leader has been part of numerous transformations in all the organizations he has been associated with. “SCP has been no different as we are transforming our operations team into a continuous improvement army. We have made significant improvements in quality, delivery, and productivity by engaging our entire workforce,” adds Russell. “We manage our operations to make improvement daily – small, continuous improvements that have led to our best in class position.”

"SCP Limited believes in limitless possibilities—for our industry, and for our employees."

SCP’s advanced manufacturing capabilities and tight quality controls offer the best-in-class silicon carbide hot surface igniter performance. Their scientists, engineers and production associates are focused entirely on innovating solutions for customers to continuously improve in everything they do. SCP has multiple patents, including their patented silicon carbide vacuum furnace process which produces hot surface igniters that are far superior to our competitors. “Because of our ability to maintain a tight process control we can prevent micro-cracking; and produce hot surface igniters that have a superior product life with much lower service call rates for our customers,” adds Russell.

Through innovation SCP has made many significant step-function improvements. For example, their room temperature resistance performance specification is one-tenth what their competition can achieve. “This level of performance is driven by the numerous patents and trade secrets we enjoy within our furnace operations,” adds Russell. “Our time to ignition on a carbide igniter is significantly faster than the competition, and we are working on a solution that reduces the time to ignition by 50%. Innovation is part of our DNA as a company; we have a creative fire to advance the science of hot surface igniters.”

While leading the company to new heights, Russell makes it his priority to speak to the individuals closest to the work. They have innovation, quality, and cost reduction reviews regularly, where he wants to hear unfiltered updates from the engineer or production associate who is working on the project. “We are a believer in “Gemba” – go and see on the shop floor. Each day we have a Gemba walk where we go to each production department to understand how the previous day finished, and how we are performing today,” explains Russell. “Our team leaders drive this process and know intimately how production is performing hour-by-hour, what our scrap rates and causes are each and every day; they know where we stand month-to-date versus our production plan.” According to him, the people closest to the work know best what it takes to perform and improve. The more people are engaged, the more inspired they will be and the less likely it is one experiences “institutional dampening.”

Advising future leaders, Russell suggests surrounding oneself with the best people, and then listen to them. “We want robust dialogue as we discuss critical issues. After vetting ideas, we like to experiment – constantly,” he adds. “Organizations learn and advance through experimentation. Whether our experimentation is a small trial, or an “A3” problem-solving approach, or a development activity with a managed project plan. We are a learning organization. We want problems to scream for attention.”

As for the future, SCP is expanding beyond hot surface igniters in the gas appliance industry. Because they have innovated safer, more energy efficient systems, they are moving up the value chain within gas appliance systems. It is an exciting time at SCP, as in addition to all their technological advances, their customers value a stable, reliable supply chain. “Having a supplier who is only 1-3 days away is highly valued today with so many disruptions in our global economy. Our proven ability to deliver to our customers just-in-time makes our value proposition all the stronger,” says Russell. IE