ESTERLINE TECHNOLOGIES CORP. /Bellevue, Washington Leaner Focus Puts Parts Maker In Good Shape.(A)(The New America)

Byline: Janet Purdy Levaux

Investor's Business Daily

Trimming fat from manufacturing operations often begins with admitting you havea problem in the first place.

That's no sweat for Robert Cremin, president and chief executive of Esterline Technologies Corp.

Esterline manufactures parts and gear for aerospace, military and other clients. As those clients focus more on cutting costs and improving efficiencies, Esterline feels added pressure to streamline its own operati

ons.

"We have more than our share of dumb processes that keep people from unleashingtheir talents, like a lot of other companies," Cremin said. "We're trying to build a reputation, so the next time a (client's) engineer hits a wall, …