Ron Kirscht joined Donnelly Custom Manufacturing Co. in 1991 as vice president of operations, and was named president in 2000. He has helped to shape and transform the Alexandria, Minn.-based injection molder into a recognized leader while setting standards for how short-run molding and manufacturing is done. The firm has focused on that process since 1984.
During his tenure, Kirscht has led the efforts to establish an outstanding manufacturing launch process, shorten lead times, collapse mold change-over times and meet the demands of just-in-time inventory management. Donnelly now handles some 2,700 active molds, which have an average production run of less than 11 hours, involving more than 500 materials and 15,000 mold changes a year.
The company has a solid track record of consistent and profitable growth. The firm's sales have climbed steadily, averaging 12 percent annual growth for the past four years, to reach $28.9 million in 2007.
Kirscht has led the implementation of critical business processes and strategic thinking by adopting the theory of constraints management (High Velocity Management), the manufacturing war room, lean manufacturing, and the discipline of market leadership in customer intimacy.
Prior to joining Donnelly, Kirscht was a corporate controller for Plastech Corp., a large, Minnesota-based injection molder. He also held various financial positions with Sandoz Nutrition (now Novartis) and the Minneapolis office of Coopers & Lybrand (now PriceWaterhouseCoopers).
He holds a bachelor of science degree in accounting from Minnesota's St. Cloud State University. In addition, he is a certified public accountant and certified management accountant. He also is a member of the Twin Cities chapter of Young Presidents Organization and actively serves on the board of Minnesota's West Central Initiative.