OFICIAL RTX News Center

A production boost, powered by hard data

What happened
Based on RTX News Center · Aug 24, 2026

RTX reports a 20% annual increase in output and production time reduction at its Holt, Michigan facility since 2024, driven by digital technologies including Real-Time Location Services and an andon visual management system.

🚩 Report a correction ↗ Open source
A production boost, powered by hard data
RTX News Center — RTX
Key points
·
Output has jumped 20% each year since 2024 and production time has dropped by the same margin at Pratt & Whitney AutoAir in Holt, Michigan.
·
When a small batch of parts had been sent across the factory for rework and never returned, for example, a supervisor used the system to test his best guess on where they were.
·
The parts had piled up at a workstation, awaiting a treatment that had been taking up to several hours.
·
With the mystery solved, the team used the insight to speed up the step in question, eventually finding a faster alternative that worked as well in only a fraction of the time.
Key numbers
·
Pratt & Whitney AutoAir in Holt, Michigan, has achieved a 20% annual rise in output and an equivalent drop in production time since 2024, according to RTX.
·
RTX reports a 20% annual increase in output and production time reduction at its Holt, Michigan facility since 2024, driven by digital technologies including Real-Time Location Services and an andon visual management system.
·
Output has jumped 20% each year since 2024 and production time has dropped by the same margin at Pratt & Whitney AutoAir in Holt, Michigan.

Pratt & Whitney AutoAir in Holt, Michigan, has achieved a 20% annual rise in output and an equivalent drop in production time since 2024, according to RTX. The facility is part of RTX’s broader data strategy to integrate systems, factories, and products, aiming to accelerate production, lower costs, and enhance quality. Operations excellence manager Bryce Bergethon noted record blade production, attributing gains to digital tools like Real-Time Location Services (RTLS), which tracks thousands of parts in real time to resolve bottlenecks and streamline workflows.

RTLS replaced a manual system where operators scanned over 1,000 parts per shift and checked locations once daily. Michael Sweet, manager of RTX’s CORE process improvement system, said the new system eliminates guesswork and human error in tracking, providing precise data to guide business decisions. The andon visual management system further supports lean manufacturing by allowing line operators to report issues and request support without leaving their stations, reducing delays and improving throughput.

Since implementing the andon system, its use has more than doubled at the Holt site. Gene Stage, site operations leader, emphasized the goal of keeping operators at their workstations to minimize disruptions. The combined use of RTLS and andon generates operational data that RTX analyzes to identify inefficiencies and implement solutions, such as reducing rework time through targeted process improvements.

Joel Baynes, operations and data analytics manager, underscored the importance of converting data into actionable insights, noting that RTX’s Customer Oriented Results and Excellence (CORE) system drives continuous efficiency gains. The site is now expanding automation, including robotic visual inspections and adhesive application methods, to build on its digital foundation and further enhance quality and productivity in the years ahead.

Original source → Deals on Clipraptor.com →