B-k Tool & Design Inc Kalida Oh
KALIDA — BK Tool and Design operates much differently than when president Bob Kahle started in the business 35 years ago.
With the help of his sons, Kevin and Jeff Kahle, the machine manufacturer has expanded three times and now employs around 80 people. Along with an increased employee and customer base, the company is also adapting to an industry that is ever-changing.
The jobs once done by hand are now in the arms of robots.
"We're focusing more on automation all the time," Bob Kahle said. "If you walk out on the floor, there's probably 25 or more robots."
While robots may make the parts that BK ships to major suppliers such as Subaru, Honda and General Motors, someone still needs to program, maintain and operate them. That's where skilled workers come in, and Kahle says the need is there.
"The automation part of it is a lot of the hard work somebody used to have to do by hand, but now it's being done differently," he said. "A lot of programming is done in the office and brought out to the machine. The skills have changed a lot since I started."
Recently, BK Tool invited Putnam County students to tour the facility, in an effort to show them that the manufacturing industry is a viable option to pursue, whether or not they have a college degree. Kahle said the most important thing he looks for is skills.
"Not everyone has to get a college degree, but they got to come with some type of skill and a good attitude to learn," he said.
Kahle said one of the most important messages he is trying to get across to students is that they can find well-paying manufacturing jobs without leaving their hometowns.
"A lot of families see their best and brightest move off to the city somewhere, and that is a drain on our economy that shouldn't happen," he said. "The jobs are out there, in your town, in your county.
"You could probably fill 100 jobs in the county today."
Even if there is no immediate need, Kahle said he will still hire workers if they are qualified.
"Any time I find someone available, we'll hire that person even if we don't know what we're going to do with them right away," he said. "If you've got good people available, that's your most important asset by far."
With the need for automated machines increasing, Kahle said he and his family will do whatever it takes to keep their company growing with more skilled workers and a state-of-the-art manufacturing process.
"We feel like we're adapting to the industry, but it seems like you're always behind the curve, and even if you stay on top of it, you're never there long," Kahle said. "If you're not open to changes, you're going to get behind in a hurry."
Phil Brinkman, a mechanical engineer at BK Tool and Design, shows freshmen from Fort Jennings High School a plastic part that was constructed with a 3-D printer during a recent tour of the facility.
Kevin Kahle, general manager of BK Tool and Design in Kalida, explains how one of its machines operates. The company, founded 35 years ago, relies heavily on robotics to design parts for auto manufacturers, such as Subaru, Honda and General Motors.
Bob Kahle, president of BK Tool and Design, discusses how the manufacturing business has evolved since he started in 1981.
Reach John Bush at 567-242-0456 or on Twitter @bush_lima
B-k Tool & Design Inc Kalida Oh
Source: https://www.limaohio.com/news/180244/bk-tool-and-design-adapting-to-changing-industry
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