NIEHOFF ENDEX NORTH AMERICA: DRIVING OPERATIONAL EXCELLENCE THROUGH CONTINUOUS IMPROVEMENT

Background

Niehoff Endex North America (NENA) has been a leader in the Wire and Cable industry, providing state-of-the-art manufacturing equipment, spare parts, and services since establishing its U.S. presence in 1990. Headquartered in Swedesboro, New Jersey, NENA operates as the North American division of the German-based Niehoff Group, bringing European precision and innovation to the U.S. market. Their cutting-edge machinery and solutions support wire and cable manufacturers across various industries, ensuring efficiency, quality, and technological advancement.

Committed to continuous improvement, NENA sought to enhance its operations through Lean principles and strategies, aligning with its corporate Power+ Continuous Improvement Program to drive greater efficiency, productivity, and quality across the organization.

Challenge

In the wire and cable manufacturing industry, efficiency, consistency, and innovation are critical to staying ahead of the competition. For Niehoff Endex North America (NENA), ensuring that operations ran as smoothly and productively as possible was not just an internal priority—it was a fundamental part of their ability to meet customer demands and maintain their reputation for quality. However, achieving sustainable process improvements required more than just internal efforts.

As part of their global Power+ Continuous Improvement Program, NENA set ambitious goals to refine workflows, eliminate inefficiencies, and develop a culture of operational excellence. However, implementing Lean methodologies across an entire organization presented its own set of challenges. The company needed structured training, expert guidance, and a clear roadmap to ensure long-term success. While NENA had an internal team capable of driving change, they recognized the need for an external partner to provide specialized support in Lean implementation, data-driven decision-making, and an outside perspective.

To sustain and scale continuous improvement efforts, NENA sought a partner who could provide hands-on guidance, real-world application of Lean methodologies, and leadership training that would equip their teams with the skills necessary to drive lasting change. With these objectives in mind, NENA turned to NJMEP to support the execution of their continuous improvement initiatives and ensure they met their quality targets.

Solution

To bring NENA’s Power+ Continuous Improvement Program to life, NJMEP developed a structured, hands-on training and implementation strategy designed to deliver both immediate and long-term impact. The program was planned for 18 full-day onsite sessions, totaling 144 hours, supplemented by 22 additional hours of offsite preparation and support, bringing the total to 166 hours of dedicated expertise. This approach ensured that continuous improvement efforts were seamlessly integrated into daily operations without disrupting productivity.

One of the key focuses of the initiative was 5S Workplace Organization, a fundamental Lean methodology aimed at creating a more efficient, structured, and organized work environment. In addition to workplace organization, NJMEP worked closely with NENA’s team to refine operational workflows, improve warehouse management, and introduce Root Cause Analysis techniques to identify and eliminate recurring inefficiencies. These sessions provided employees with problem-solving frameworks that enabled them to take proactive steps in optimizing processes. The program also included Leadership Training and Coaching, equipping supervisors and management with the skills needed to sustain and build upon these improvements long after the training was completed.

This dynamic approach empowered employees at every level, reinforcing a culture of continuous improvement while aligning with NENA’s corporate vision for operational excellence.

Results

Over the past 12 months, the impact of this partnership has gone far beyond process adjustments and efficiency gains. According to an independent third-party survey, NENA reported the following results:

• INCREASED SALES: $400,000
• RETAINED SALES: $650,000
• NEW PLANT EQUIPMENT INVESTMENTS: $40,000

Molly Griffith, HR Manager at OFS, says that engaging with NJMEP has helped take some of the burden off the shoulders of a small company like OFS. “With NJMEP being as proactive as they are with reaching out and creating connections for us and offering services, it’s just taken a lot of that admin work out of trying to find resources manually on our own.”