b'Relationshipscanmakeorbreakneeded a partner that could give them SUMMARY acompany,particularlyinthethe support and service they needed conventionalmachinetoolsmarket.to grow and prosper.Customers want to kick the tires, lookEnter Methods Machine Tools. someone in the eye, and know whenLabriesaidMethodsdecadesof they call, someone shows up with theknowledge and service made them the COMPANY: J&Eright parts, right tools, and right attitude.ideal partner. The two companies have Precision Tool,J&E PrecisionTool Inc. and Methodsbeen working together since 1986. Inc. based inMachine Tools share a rich history. Both The service at Methods has always Southampton, Mass. family-ownedbusinessesarebasedbeensecondtonone,Labriesaid. inMassachusettsandcamefromThey have a good stock of parts, and humblebeginningsJ&EPrecisionthose guys know what theyre talking PROBLEM: TheisheadquarteredinSouthampton,about.company wasMass. and began with one machine,DuringLabriestenure,one beginning towhileMethodsislocatedinnearbychallengecameinthemid-2000s manufacture aSudbury, Mass. and was founded withwhen the company accepted several greater variety ofthreeemployeesandahandfulofnew contracts and was looking to get parts and wantedrefurbished machines. intoelectricaldischargemachining new machines to Jon Labrie, VP of Operations, recalls(EDM).J&EPrecisionproduceshigh-process large andtheaerospace/defensecomponentquality parts for industries that require small components manufacturerwantedmorethanastringenttolerancesandrelyonfirm machinetoolsupplier.J&EPrecisiondeadlines.Thecompanywantedto useonemachinetomakevariousLabrie didnt have to look long. Hissupply J&E with dozens of machine tools SOLUTION: FANUCsparts for different jobs, from millimetersearch led him to a 50 taper verticalthroughout the years. EDM machine,waveguideproductstohooksforamachining center (VMC) built by OKKButthebenefitsofpartneringwith RoboCut and retrofitted submarine door. Corp.,ahigh-qualitymachinetoolMethods go far beyond the machines several OKK VMCs We needed a machine big enoughmanufactureandoneofMethodsand parts. were installed. to handle the parts, Labrie explained.premier builders. And, he found someIts the service and quick responses, The FANUC RoboCut wire EDM offeredother benefits once the machine wasLabrie said. You can pick up the phone theadaptabilityandusefulnesstheup and running. and talk to someone pretty quickly.RESULT: J&E Precisioncompany was looking for. For a big machine, its pretty quick,ForJ&EPrecision,thatservice Tool was able to The service behind it made a hugetoo, he added.and quick response come from Ray use the machines todifference in our purchasing decision,However,MethodsdidmorethanNavarro.Navarrohaspartnered manufacture partshe added. deliverandinstallmachines,Labriewith J&E Precision for years, working of different sizes.TheWhen the company began to explorerecalled.Methodshasshippedpartsclosely with them to get the necessary RoboCut and OKKfive-axis machining, it turned to Methodsduring off-hours and installed machinesparts,machines,andsetups machines providedforexpertise.Thetwocompaniesat a moments notice. In one instance,on time.the versatility theworkedtogether,withMethodsLabrie said, J&E Precision was beginningJ&EPrecisionhasgrownannually company required,suppling J&E Precision with its first five-tofallbehindonaparticularorder.andrecentlyexpandedwitha allowing it to acceptaxis machine.Methodssteppedinimmediately,24,000 square foot facility in nearby and complete aJ&EbegantotakeonotherallowingJ&EPrecisiontouseitsWestfield,Mass.Withanotheryear diverse range contractsthatnecessitatedtechnical center in Sudbury, Mass. Theof success on the books, Labrie said, of contracts.new machinery. aerospace/defense part manufacturerthereisonlyonethinghesonthe WedidnthavemachinesbigwassoonusingMethodstoolsatalookout for.enough, first off, Labrie said. Second,Methods facility to machine parts. We will need to fill that space, he we were looking for something toughMethods has leveraged its experiencesaid jested. So you better have some and rugged.and expansive line of builder partners tosupply, Ray.'