Lean Approach to Manufacturing Makes SMC Bigger and Stronger than the Rest

MIDLAND, Va. – In a time when most companies are focusing on survival, Smith-Midland Corporation of Midland, Virginia, is transforming. They are tearing down the walls on what is typically known as "economy of scale," or traditional manufacturing and taking a more holistic approach to the process of manufacturing precast concrete. Ultimately, they will build a better, bigger, and stronger company which, in turn, may result in a more profitable company.

According to Chris Kemp, Director of Continuous Improvement for Smith-Midland, the company is undergoing what can best be described as a "lean" transformation. "The transformation will focus on the three main factors that production managers fear most: poor quality, increase in production costs, and an increase in lead time. It will be a shift from the traditional manufacturing system to a model that emulates the Toyota Production System."

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Smith-Midland Awarded Prestigious CUP Award for Fort Story Project

MIDLAND, Va. – Officials at Smith-Midland Corporation were recently the recipients of the prestigious Creative Use of Precast (CUP) Award for a building project completed in Virginia Beach, Virginia. This is the fifth consecutive year that Smith-Midland has received a CUP award. They also received the only Honorable Mention in the Above Ground Category for their 3120 Fairview Park Drive (Fairfax, VA) project.

The company's submission for its Military Combat Facility project replicating an Iraqi village utilizing their Easi-Set Precast Concrete Buildings, garnered third place in the CUP Awards program for the Above Ground category. The CUP Awards Program is an annual competition for NPCA members recognizing projects promoting innovative and cost-saving advantages of precast concrete over competing materials. The award was presented at the Salute to Excellence Award Banquet on Saturday, February 21 in Houston, Texas. The Gala is the closing event for the NPCA Winter Conference.

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Smith-Midland Introduces Latest Sound-Absorptive Technology

MIDLAND, Va. – Smith-Midland Corporation has announced the introduction of SoftSound to its Easi-Set Industries product line. The latest sound-absorptive technology for use in highway noise walls, SoftSound is a proprietary composition that is molded and compressed to suit the desired technical and aesthetic requirements of the customer. By combining special aggregates with cement as a binder in a specific and exacting process, SoftSound creates a material that surpasses any other combination of durability, acoustics, thermal, strength and moldability.

SoftSound, currently being used in the Commonwealth of Virginia, is a fully-tested, porous, lightweight material averaging 36 pounds per cubic foot. It is durable under all weather conditions, environmentally friendly, and 100% recyclable. It is resistant to rot, decay, mildew and mold buildup, insect nesting, vermin, termites, and combustion.

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MILDEP Headquarters to Feature Smith-Midland Architectural Precast Panels

MIDLAND, Va. – Smith-Midland Corporation is pleased to announce that they will be providing the architectural precast concrete panels for the Military Department (MILDEP) Investigative Agencies headquarters to be located at the Marine Corps Base in Quantico, Virginia.

The contract for the concrete panels awarded to Smith-Midland is valued at $4.3 million and features 135,000 square feet of architectural precast panels. The panels are thick, steel reinforced, with a buff and dark brown, light sandblast finish.

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M Square Features Architectural Precast Panels

MIDLAND, Va. – Smith-Midland Corporation is pleased to announce that they will be providing the architectural precast concrete panels for the construction of "M Square", Maryland's largest research park located in College Park, Maryland. The research park will encompass two million square feet and be located next to a world-class university as well as in close proximity to Washington, easily accessed by adjacent commuter lines.

The $1.5 million contract awarded to Smith-Midland features 38,000 square feet (333 pieces) of architectural precast panels. The finish on the panels is a combination of two architectural concrete mixes, buff colored precast with a light acid wash finish and a cocoa brown colored mix with a medium acid wash finish. The color was chosen to match an existing building.

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Manager of Business Development Joins Smith-Midland Team

MIDLAND, Va. – Jeff Wholey of Fredericksburg has joined Smith-Midland Corporation as Manager of Business Development. Jeff's focus will be on the sales and marketing of the company's Slenderwall architectural precast concrete wall panel system and architectural products.

Jeff brings more than 25 years of sales experience to Smith-Midland in positions ranging from major account representative to national sales manager with such prestigious companies as Xerox, Lanier and Advanced Oxidation Technology. He brings a strong work ethic and excellent customer skills to the company's sales team. Jeff's enthusiasm about his new position is very obvious. He said, "I'm very excited about the Smith-Midland product line and opportunities which exist in the marketplace. My goal is to grow sales for the Slenderwall system and architectural products and contribute to the continuing success of the company." Jeff is a graduate of Bridgewater College with a degree in Business Administration. He lives in Fredericksburg with his son Logan 17 and daughter Shannon 12. In his spare time Jeff enjoys playing golf.

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Smith-Midland Promotes Ashley Smith to President

MIDLAND, Va. – Ashley B. Smith has been promoted to President/COO of Smith-Midland (Virginia) Corporation taking over the position that his father, Rodney I. Smith held since 1965. Rodney will remain CEO and Chairman of the Board for all Smith Delaware companies.

Ashley has served as Vice President of Sales and Marketing of the Company since 1990 and as a Director since 1994. Prior to that, he worked in sales for the company and served as president of Easi-Set Industries, a subsidiary of Smith-Midland. Rodney is pleased to have Ashley taking on the role of President and COO. "We are looking forward to Ashley's ideas, judgment and leadership at Smith-Midland to maintain our leadership position and continue to grow and improve the company", stated Rodney.

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Phase II of Chantilly's Commonwealth Centre Features Architectural Precast Panels

MIDLAND, Va. – Smith-Midland Corporation is pleased to announce that they will be providing the architectural precast concrete panels for the construction of Phase II of the Commonwealth Centre. The Centre is located in the 1,100 acres within the Westfields International Corporate Center three miles from Washington Dulles International Airport and about 25 miles from Washington D.C.

The $1.36 million contract awarded to Smith-Midland features 39,000 square feet of architectural precast panels. The panels are 6" thick, steel reinforced, with two brown colors, one with a medium sandblast finish and one with an acid wash finish and white color with a medium sandblast finish.

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Smith-Midland receives ACI Award for Pentagon Retaining Wall

MIDLAND, Va. – The National Capital Chapter of the American Concrete Institute presented Smith-Midland with an award for the precast concrete structure at the Pentagon Remote Delivery Facility. The complete design-build retaining wall system utilizes a precast concrete panel system and a precast concrete kneewall system. Smith-Midland completed the design and construction of this retaining wall in 4 months. The project is located on the north side of the Pentagon adjacent to existing stone overpasses. The architect wanted to match the old-hand cut, hand-laid stone that is located on the overpasses around the Pentagon. An architectural precast mix was used with an Ashlar Stone form liner. After casting, the panels were sandblasted to expose the coarse aggregate in the mix. Smith-Midland Corporation is a publicly traded company (OTC BB, Boston Stock Exchange: SMID, SMIDW). Smith-Midland develops, manufactures, and sells a broad array of precast concrete products for use primarily in the construction, transportation and utilities Industries. Smith-Midland has two manufacturing facilities located in Midland, Virginia, and Reidsville, North Carolina. Easi-Set Industries, a wholly owned subsidiary of Smith-Midland corporation, licenses the production of Smith-Midland developed products around the world.

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