Murrieta’s Fireblast Global’s Lean Manufacturing Implementation Recognized Among Region’s Manufacturers

Murrieta, CA – October 18, 2024: At a breakfast event co-hosted by the Manufacturers’ Council of the Inland Empire (MCIE) and the City of Murrieta, Wallace Brithinee, President of MCIE presented Fireblast Global with the MCIE’s Innovation Award in Process Efficiency. Over 30 attendees were present from across Inland Southern California, including representatives from the City of Murrieta, County of Riverside, and County of San Bernardino were present at the Murrieta Innovation Center at the Murrieta/Wildomar Chamber of Commerce to honor the Murrieta-based designer and manufacturer of fire training equipment.

Fireblast Global’s Innovation Award in Process Efficiency honors the entire organization’s thorough commitment to Lean Management systems, relentlessly eliminating waste and increasing efficiency. It also recognizes Fireblast Global’s management for their commitment to sharing Lean Manufacturing with others in the regional manufacturing community and advancing the manufacturing sector in the Inland Empire. A certificate and trophy made by an MCIE member manufacturer in their facility were presented to Rick Egelin, CEO, and Tanner Egelin, Operations Manager, at the event.

Lean Manufacturing principles have been made famous by companies like Toyota Motor Corporation and are a key part of their competitive success. Fireblast Global studied and applied Lean Manufacturing principles in their facility over the course of years, with multiple members of the Fireblast Global team having received training on the topic in Japan.

Of Fireblast Global’s achievements, MCIE President Wallace Brithinee says that, “we wanted to honor the level of commitment that so many members of the Fireblast Global team have demonstrated to Lean Manufacturing at Fireblast Global. For small and large businesses, this can be challenging. Rick Egelin told us about the ups and downs of implementation, but the team remained committed. The results are outstanding, both for operational efficiency and for their culture.”

Fireblast Global’s team has embraced Lean Manufacturing methods to such a degree that multiple team members talk of taking the principles home with them from work to use in their own personal lives, and that has only further improved Fireblast Global’s commitment to the model. Says Brithinee, “the management and team at Fireblast Global can and should be proud of what they have achieved and stand as an example to other manufacturers of the region for what Lean Manufacturing principles can do to improve a company’s efficiency and be competitive in the pressures of the global marketplace.”

At the event Rick Egelin, Founder and CEO, and Tanner Egelin, Operations Manager, from Fireblast Global presented on the concepts and applications of Lean Manufacturing into their manufacturing processes. Following the presentation, attendees were then invited to tour the Fireblast Global facility for a private tour guided by Rick Egelin and Tanner Egelin to observe the applications of lean manufacturing techniques in use on and off the assembly line.

Fireblast Global joins an impressive list of past recipients of Innovation Awards from MCIE. Past recipients have included students at Harvey Mudd College in Claremont, California Steel in Fontana, Phenix Helmets in Riverside, Toyota North America Parts Center of Ontario, Precision Hermetic Technology of Redlands, and Ventura Foods of Brea. Since the awards began in 2012, the Innovation Awards have been given no more frequently than annually to manufacturers of merit in the Inland Southern California region. Rigorous review of potential candidates and nominations is undertaken by a jury of industry veterans with at least 20 years’ experience in the field.

The MCIE Innovation Awards were established to showcase to Inland Empire companies, their employees, and the public, the innovative advancements in manufacturing that regional manufacturers large and small achieve in the region competing in a global market. Awards are given in categories of Process Efficiency, Product Development, Marketing, Human Capital Development, or Student Innovation. For information on the awards, past recipients, the jury, or how to submit a nomination, consult https://mfgcouncilie.com/innovation-awards/ for more.

The Manufacturers’ Council of the Inland Empire regularly hosts factory tours, networking sessions, industry panels and other events. Registration information for their October event will be made public soon.

The Manufacturers’ Council (MCIE) represents manufacturers in Riverside and San Bernardino counties. Their efforts include reaching out to students, their parents, and the public at large with the message that skilled trade opportunities are available that offer rewarding high-wage careers.

The Manufacturers’ Council of the Inland Empire’s membership is comprised of professionals, students, community members, and corporate leadership with interests in manufacturing in Inland Southern California.

The Manufacturers’ Council of the Inland Empire (MCIE) supports education and career training on behalf of manufacturers throughout the region, offering programming and expertise in a variety of topics including innovative workforce solutions. Visit http://www.mfgcouncilie.com or our Linktree at linktr.ee/iemanufacturing for more information on careers, events, and membership.