Herndon News

By JIM HOOK Senior writer

The "wrench turners" at Letterkenny Army Depot got a new name Thursday, Artisans.

Defense contractor Scott Herndon told 300 workers in the Letterkenny generator shop that his company is part of a team that will supply parts to them and "will enable the artisan to do a better job."

An artisan is a craftsman or skilled manual worker. The new moniker emphasizes skill above labor, but latches onto Letterkenny's traditional blue collar pride.

Herndon, president of Missouri-based Herndon Products Inc., made his remarks during a ribbon-cutting ceremony Thursday. Work on the Army's portable generators fell silent for 15 minutes.

Brig. Gen. Patricia McQuistion encouraged the workers: "Keep doing what you do best. Take it to the next step."

Letterkenny, a maintenance depot, will be getting parts through a private contractor by way of the Defense Logistics Agency. The contractor will keep the bins full, and free up Letterkenny workers to do their repair work.

The $284 million contract has the potential to save the depot millions of dollars in eight years, according to Bob Woody of the Letterkenny contracting office.

The 12 Letterkenny employees currently doing parts work in eight buildings across the depot will be transferred to other Letterkenny maintenance jobs, he said. The contract will create 20 private sector jobs.

W.W. Williams, based in Columbus, Ohio, and one of the nation's largest industrial distribution companies, is teaming with Herndon to provide the service. The company has a warehouse in Chambersburg. Williams already partners on two other Letterkenny programs, according to Chris Emery, vice president of business development for Williams.

Letterkenny, Franklin County's largest employer, has 3,400 workers who repair and rebuild systems for the Department of Defense. Four shops -- generators, Humvees, Patriot missile systems and the Biological Integration Detection System -- have all won Shingo medallions for manufacturing excellence.

The contract, known as an Industrial Prime Vendor initiative, is to improve response time and increase readiness, according to Letterkenny officials.

Supervisors who previously helped run parts also will be able to concentrate more on maintenance operations, said John Inge, chief of the power generator shop.

"Letterkenny Army Depot is synonymous with lean manufacturing," Herndon said.

McQuistion, commander of Defense Supply Center, Columbus, recalled visiting Letterkenny in 2003: "You were great then. You're even better today."

Letterkenny has since diversified its missions and expanded its work force.

The general also knew about Letterkenny's work when she served in Iraqi Freedom: "We knew we would get it on time, if not sooner, and it would be guaranteed to save warfighters' lives."