Briggs & Stratton Engine Plant Nears 70 Million Engines Manufactured
The eight-hundred-plus workers at the Briggs & Stratton plant in Poplar Bluff, MO, have been steadily working towards a key milestone: 70 million engines manufactured. Over its first 23 years, the Poplar Bluff plant has consistently produced millions of engines each year while improving the efficiency of the facility and maintaining high quality standards.
Briggs & Stratton is driving efficiency throughout the operation by minimizing waste and improving the management of natural resources. “Our team is actively engaged in making the plant more efficient while improving the quality of the products we produce” says Mark Melloy, plant manager for Briggs & Stratton. “Over 200 employees have participated in Lean and Six Sigma projects as part of our continuous improvement initiatives. We are a determined group and proud of the fact that Briggs & Stratton is making engines here in Missouri, and more importantly, in the US.” One of the most innovative waste reduction projects originated in Poplar Bluff's aluminum die casting department. The Poplar Bluff team developed a way to recycle 5 million pounds of aluminum machining chips per year. “These improvements to our facility have saved the company over $1 million in recycling costs,” Malloy notes.
Since its opening, the Poplar Bluff plant has expanded three times, growing to more than 400,000 square feet, and is the second largest employer in Poplar Bluff. The facility features 29 die cast machines that can process 50 to 75 million pounds of aluminum each year, making it one of the largest die cast facilities in the region.
The Poplar Bluff plant manufactures several popular engine models for Briggs & Stratton using US and global parts, including the Professional Series, the 675ex and 725ex Series, and the 625e Series engines. These engines power several popular push lawnmower brands including Brute, Craftsman, Husqvarna, John Deere, Poulan, Snapper, Toro and Troy-Bilt.
Source
Briggs & Stratton; PR Newswire