October 01, 2025
Innovation at Work: How One New Employee Is Improving Our Processes
At McCormick Industries, we’re always looking for ways to improve our processes and create a more efficient and productive workplace. But sometimes, the most impactful innovations don’t come from a new piece of high-tech machinery, but from a fresh perspective and a can-do attitude. We recently saw this firsthand with Evan, our newest employee.
Joining our team not long ago, Evan quickly noticed a challenge we faced with a particular industrial application. We were manually sorting thousands of small brass rings, a process that was not only time-consuming but also prone to error. The rings, which come in five different sizes, had to be sorted to separate the good rings from the scrap pieces, which look very similar. This was a tedious task, and Evan knew there had to be a better way.
Instead of accepting the status quo, Evan put his problem-solving skills to work. He spent his downtime thinking about how to automate this tedious process, and he came up with a brilliant idea: a custom-built sorting device. His invention is a testament to the power of simple, elegant design. It features an oscillating mechanism that vibrates the rings, a sloped bed, and a gate that serves as the crucial sorting point.
The device works by taking advantage of a simple principle: gravity. Evan loads the rings into a small bin at the top of the sloped bed. As the device oscillates, the rings move down the slope. The genius of the design lies in the adjustable gate at the bottom of the bed. We machine the rings to five different sizes, and the gate can be adjusted to a specific height for each size. A “good” part can easily pass under the gate and into a container, ready for its next step. A “scrap” part, however, is a different story. Its shape prevents it from fitting under the gate. Therefore, it remains on the sloped bed, where it can be collected and set aside. This system allows us to separate thousands of good parts from scrap ones in a fraction of the time it would take to do so by hand.
The impact of Evan’s invention has been immediate and significant. As President Gary Hermsen noted, the production volumes for these rings are exceptionally high, which means that any time saved on the sorting process translates to major efficiency gains. Evan’s custom sorting system is a justified investment that will pay dividends for years to come.
But Evan isn’t stopping there. He’s already thinking about the next iteration of the device. The current version requires him to manually load the rings into the bin and use a small brush to ensure they don’t pile up. His vision for the next version includes an automatic conveyor system to prevent the rings from stacking on top of each other. He also plans to add a chute to automatically eject the scrap parts, making the process even more hands-off.
Evan’s ingenuity is a perfect example of what makes McCormick Industries special. We value creative thinking, and we empower our employees to find solutions to real-world problems. Evan didn’t just see a problem; he developed a solution that is already having a tangible impact on our operations. His initiative and dedication are inspiring, and we can’t wait to see what he comes up with next.
