(IMEC: Dixon, IL) -- Bonnell Industries has been a family-owned, industry leader in the truck equipment industry in Northern Illinois for decades but struggled to embrace the concept of lean manufacturing. The team mostly operated under “we do it this way because it’s what we know.”

It wasn’t until William Hintzsche joined the team in November 2021 as the new COO that things began to change. Noticing excess inventory and multiple nonvalue steps in processes, he realized it was time to attack the waste. Hintzsche knew it was in the company’s best interest to reinforce lean principles and integrate them as part of the culture.

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