C. Charles Hahn
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Work ethic is more than just the boss' attitude.
Germany Flex Plant Tour Pictures
- Thread starter Mike Phillips
- Start date
Work ethic is more than just the boss' attitude.
Setec Astronomy
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- Aug 31, 2010
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IMO perhaps it's because in other countries there is perceived to be value in people who design/make things, which is no longer the case here.
cutter
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Deep Gloss Auto Salon
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- Jun 16, 2007
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What a great experience.....time to get home to get some rest 
Flex seem to be somewhat vertically integrated (castings, cnc). Did it seem as though they make or purchase most of their components?
Flex seem to be somewhat vertically integrated (castings, cnc). Did it seem as though they make or purchase most of their components?
detaildave
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- Oct 7, 2009
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Mike, thank you for sharing your experience with us. Great pic's as well!!! Nothing beats the German Work Ethic!!!:xyxthumbs:
Mike Phillips
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My sentiments exactly. Seeing parts for the tools created from raw stock and then assembled into finished products was a HUGE eye opener as to the focus and attention paid to the smallest details which accounts for the high quality of the Flex name.
I have some background working in manufacturing including working in a class 9000 Cleanroom for Hewlett-Packard and so I was actually pretty familiar with how assemblies lines like these are set up to maximize time and labor. Flex is certainly up to date with all the best practices needed to create a top quality tool but still be competitive in a market.
There was actually so much more to the plant that I could have photographed and shared but I figured what I posted would get the idea across. The Training Room and Hands-on Testing Room were also very well put together to pass on head knowledge and skills for using all the Flex tools.
Hoping to go back for a second round in the future... :xyxthumbs:
I agree. Your welcome and me too...
The process controls for measuring quality were everywhere throughout each station and accounts for their strong customer loyalty to the brand and high customer satisfaction over time.
I'm sure our friends at Flex will be reading this thread and all the Flex threads and see your input.
WOW!! Their work is so perfectly impeccable!!!
I just love how enthusiastic they are about what they are doing!
Thanks for the pics Mike!
Walking through Flex as strangers taking pictures, lots of pictures was probably out of the norm for the employees but one thing for sure they were all very friendly and excited to show us their craftsmanship in the various processes they were responsible for. It was very easy to see and feel the pride they take in their work.
Plant tours are always interesting especially if you experience the process from start to finish..
Great photos Mike!rops:
I agree. The start to finish was very eye opening as I was amazed at how many of the products started out as just raw materials.
The whole time I was there I was taking pictures with my Rebel and my iPhone for different uses but "yes" both Nick and I were working our cameras to the max...
I'm still surprised the let us take pictures unhindered except for the meeting with the engineers....
I agree and I'm here to tell you all the food was 5 Start all the way... now I have to hit the gym and pay the price.
What a great experience.....time to get home to get some rest
I ended up catching a cold from the trip, probably from the recirculated air on the Jet on the way home. I'm glad to say I'm already over it and back to work full steam ahead.
Yes, very much so.
Thanks Bill,
It was a privilege and an honor to be the guest at Flex Tools in Germany and the least I could do was to try to capture the tour and the trip with pictures and then share with everyone here...
My pleasure Dave, you would have had a great time!
Yeah... right after I buy one for me....
I wonder if Flex is looking for an engineer in the next year
They are a growing company and a very old company with a time-proven track record for success, definitely someone to send a resume in the future. You never know...
I didn't realize how many other industries they cater too, that's what surprised me. As for availability of the other tools in the U.S.A. there's not a lot of distribution that I know of at this time but that could change in the future. Bob Eichelberg will be here next week and I'll check with him.
I agree. Each time we walked into a new station there was more to take pictures of than time to take them.
Considering how many pictures my Canon Rebel has taken since I came to Autogeek and how many times I've dropped it... we're all lucky it's still working fine...
Thanks to everyone for chiming in on the pictures from the Flex Plant Tour, if I ever get to go again in the future maybe they'll let me take Yancy and we'll make a little video...
:xyxthumbs:
Buckskincolt
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- Aug 11, 2009
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I was going back and forth between Flex and DeWalt but after seeing this thread it's hands down Flex. Now if they would redesign the 3403 to have a lower RPM (say 6-700) then it would be the perfect rotary for a hobbyist/enthusiast like me:xyxthumbs: The PE 14 is awesome but IMO is a bit of a cash stretch for the non professional. I think to some degree Flex is missing the hobbyist market with their offerings.
Really nice to see the quality control at Flex.
One noteworthy thing is Flex, who is a German Company, still makes their Tools in .... Germany! To me this shows responsibility and that they truly want contol of what they put their name on. We don't need to look far to see quality control issues on products made by outsourced manufactures. Hopefully "other" manufacturers will read this thread too!:buffing:
Really nice to see the quality control at Flex.
One noteworthy thing is Flex, who is a German Company, still makes their Tools in .... Germany! To me this shows responsibility and that they truly want contol of what they put their name on. We don't need to look far to see quality control issues on products made by outsourced manufactures. Hopefully "other" manufacturers will read this thread too!:buffing:
custmsprty
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- Apr 11, 2012
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I usually resist reviving an old thread but this is amazing and ironic at the same time. I have been selling packaging to manufacturers for 23 years. So how come Flex can manufacture their machines in Germany, Rupes in Italy, export them to the USA and make a profit yet very few power tools are manufactured in the USA these days (China, Malaysia etc.) for sale to US customers. That just hurts man!
Great pics of the factory Mike!
Great pics of the factory Mike!
Mike@DedicatedPerfection
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- Feb 26, 2011
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I know this is old but thanks a bunch for sharing Mike!!!! The Germans really know how to make fine products.
I have saw this from the past but it was bumped.
I have saw this from the past but it was bumped.
custmsprty
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Definitely interesting with all the factory pics Mike posted.
Bottom line is some people will pay for quality as they realize that it will out last cheap inferior products in the long run.
Bottom line is some people will pay for quality as they realize that it will out last cheap inferior products in the long run.
RLucky82
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Mike Phillips
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Thanks. It was really nice that Flex allowed us to take pictures, with their permission of course.
:xyxthumbs:
Bamaboy007
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- Jul 27, 2011
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I'd still rather have a Rupes