The Power Manufacturing Award has been given to another worthy winner. Let’s give a big round of applause to the Power Manufacturer for the month of May: Wasatch Window Well Covers.
Wasatch Covers has been a significant part of the home construction industry in the Mountain West, being one of the largest window well cover manufacturers in Utah and Colorado. Company founder Ryan Anderson created Wasatch Covers after discovering the lack of quality window well cover products way back in 2002. He told Powerblanket that the company has learned many lessons over the years as it constantly seeks to innovate and improve.
“Over the last several years, we’ve spent a substantial amount of time and resources to the development of a process that allows us to do all things digital,” he said. “We first developed software that uses a mobile device, and through AI, can not only identify a window well through the device’s camera, but can also compensate for perspective and image distortion to create measurements within 0.5% accuracy. This was unheard of in an uncontrolled environment until we produced it.
“From that, we are well into the process of completely automating our processes for manufacturing the window well covers. This is one of the things that has allowed us to mass produce a custom product. The dimensions of every single window well cover are different. We are able to produce thousands of these each month.”
As a result of going digital and utilizing AI to meet the customer’s needs, Wasatch Covers has been able to expand into other markets as their ability to produce quality products has increased.
“Through our manufacturing processes, we’ve been able to grow our coverage areas,” Anderson said. “We now cover Utah and Colorado, with plans to launch nationwide by late 2019. We’ve been the clear leader in Utah and Colorado, in volume, customer service, and quality for quite some time. Over the past 5 years we’ve seen over 30% growth year over year, and 2019 is looking to continue that trend handily.”
The phrase “Always Get Better” is the mantra of Wasatch Covers. Seeking out customer input has been critical to ensuring products are always meeting the standard of being exactly what the customer needs. The company even has a full-time position dedicated to seeing how the company can improve, from the R&D desk to the manufacturing floor.
An example of this concept in action is one of the features of the window well cover products, created by inspired feedback from customers.
“One of several things that makes us stand out against our competition,” Anderson said, “is our ability to understand what our customers want and then to be able to give it to them. One example of this is our EZ lift system. This allows for a person (of almost any size) to be able to gain access or egress from any window well.”
“Always Get Better” is also the advice that Anderson said he’d give to any entrepreneur getting into the manufacturing industry.
“No matter the success or failure, continue to work hard,” he told Powerblanket. “Niches and routes to success come as you move forward in the pursuit of greatness. Also, you can’t do it alone. Align your organization both within and externally with other great companies. Learn from them, and let them do what they are best at.”
The Power Manufacturing Award has one purpose: promote the manufacturing businesses of Utah and the surrounding North American Mountain West region by showcasing innovation, customer respect and employee welfare. Wasatch Window Well Covers has proved itself to be a true Power Manufacturer, and we at Powerblanket are proud to share their story.
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