Arizona MEP and E3 Displays Build Foundation to Achieve Long-Term Growth
E3 Displays designs and manufactures custom integrated LCD display solutions for commercial, military, industrial, medical, and avionics applications. Founded in 2007, the company identified an early market gap when standard displays manufactured overseas lacked the customization capabilities customers required.
Founder and CEO Chuck Rahrig built E3 Displays to provide high-performance, customized display solutions that exceed optical and functional requirements. Today, the company serves clients worldwide and experienced significant growth in 2020, including a 20-fold increase in displays produced for ventilators.
E3 has grown steadily to approximately 50 employees globally. To support continued growth while maintaining quality and responsiveness, Rahrig recognized the need to evaluate the company’s organizational structure, manufacturing processes, and talent strategy.
E3 engaged the Arizona Manufacturing Extension Partnership (Arizona MEP), where Senior Client Advisor Greg Bischak worked with leadership to develop and implement a one-year plan focused on increasing production output and building an organization equipped to scale.
Increasing Production Output and Hiring a Vice President of Operations
As part of the growth plan, Arizona MEP manufacturing experts partnered with E3 to map production workflows, implement Lean manufacturing practices, and complete value stream mapping.
While operational improvements were underway, E3 initiated a search for a Vice President of Global Operations to sustain and expand these gains. Arizona MEP supported the effort by developing the job description and connecting E3 with a local staffing service, allowing leadership to remain focused on day-to-day operations.
Within six months of hiring the new VP of Operations and implementing Lean improvements, E3 doubled production output and added a second production shift.
Developing an Organization Ready to Grow
Arizona MEP conducted a comprehensive organizational assessment across finance, engineering, and sales to evaluate job functions, role alignment, and opportunities to streamline business processes.
Arizona MEP’s human resources expert also facilitated DISC behavioral assessments for operations candidates. These profiles helped E3 evaluate leadership fit and align roles with the company’s culture and growth objectives.
Positioned for Revenue Growth and Long-Term Planning
The foundational work completed with Arizona MEP has positioned E3 Displays to scale with confidence, knowing its manufacturing systems, leadership structure, and business processes can support additional customers and revenue.
E3 and Arizona MEP have since begun developing a three- to five-year strategic framework to identify future growth opportunities and define the resources and capabilities needed to support long-term expansion.
“Arizona MEP is a tremendous resource on many fronts, far beyond what I initially imagined,” said Rahrig. “They have experts across nearly every area a manufacturer needs, from developing job descriptions and RACI charts to senior consultants with deep experience in sales, marketing, engineering, and hands-on factory operations who can help solve real production challenges.”