Story ID: 5111214MxReports
PPG Celebrates 45 Years at Alabama Plant
By: David A. Lombardo
Caption: The facility builds aircraft windshields, windows and canopies.
Word Count: 178
PPG Industries marked the 45th anniversary of its Huntsville, Ala. facility with an open house for employees and their families to tour the operations where aircraft windshields, windows and canopies are made.

“It is a much different operation today, with greater efficiency and the ability to make larger and more complex parts,” said plant manager Tom Meyer. “The biggest change since the plant opened is the ongoing transformation to a lean culture, which I would define as the continuing mission to remove waste from the workplace. Our transformation engages all employees to constantly look for opportunities to improve our process.”

A new window may require thousands of hours in design, development and qualification by PPG employees in Huntsville before it is certified for flight. On average, aircraft windows PPG makes today are significantly larger and more complex than those made decades ago. In addition to housing production operations, the PPG facility has employees involved in design, development, testing and certification of new windows as well as support of windows for aircraft operators.