KDC & Associates, Ltd. is a senior management consulting firm concentrating on competitiveness and profitability issues facing smaller and mid-sized North American manufacturing, fabrication, services, and distribution companies. KDC’s unique expertise in Operational Excellence provides powerful assistance to companies in identifying and executing solutions to their most pressing challenges. The firm specializes in companies with annual sales of $5 to $200 million.

Dealing with rapid change and severe competition is difficult for even the largest of companies. Smaller and mid-sized companies can find themselves caught in changing conditions that seriously threaten profitability and even business viability. Operating successfully in these environments often requires resources beyond the scope of all but the largest companies. For the smaller and mid-sized company, KDC is the Right Resource.

KDC & Associates, Ltd. Partners KDC works with owners and management in devising practical and high ROI solutions to competitiveness, performance, or crisis issues. The firm offers a wide range of tailored services, from training and coaching to interim management, that provide solutions to the key challenges of performance and renewal.

KDC’s principals are senior operating executives who have many years of successful experience leading smaller and mid-sized companies through highly challenging events and environments in some of the world’s most competitive and volatile markets. The KDC difference is practicality, effectiveness, and experience.

Last Updated: 11/26/09

KDC News

Cash Forecasting Tool
KDC announces the release of its 13 Week Cash Forecasting Tool, an Excel based application designed to provide smaller and midsized manufacturers and distributors a powerful and fundamental tool for predicting cash position and availability based on a company’s bookings forecast and operating parameters. This app is based on the same tool KDC uses in its turnaround and renewal work and has been modified for general use. The application features:

Ease of use in a familiar platform.
Structure and soundness to underpin credibility and professionalism in cash flow and availability projections.
Ability to rapidly perform “what-if” analyses.
Ability to focus on areas that need preemptive attention and action.

The tool was developed as a result of popular request from clients. It is available through the Fabricators and Manufacturers Association web Bookstore (www.fmastore.org) with product code KDCCFT. It is also available directly through KDC. Discounts are available for members of certain manufacturing associations, including FMA. For more information on why you need this tool, click here or click on the following link to

13 Week Cash Forecasting Tool - Screen Captures

FabTech 2009
KDC principals are participating in FabTech 2009 in Chicago in a big way! The principals are presenting in 4 sessions in topics ranging from cash management, to continuous company renewal, to optimizing operations in high variation environments. The latter has been brought back for the third straight year due to popular demand. Dick Kallage is also on the keynote panel which formally launches the conference and exhibition.

Dick Kallage
Dick Kallage has been named chair of the Management Advisory Council of the Fabricators and Manufacturers Association, Int’l for a two year term.

Pat Donahue
Pat Donahue has been named acting CFO for a major Tier 2 automotive and appliance supplier of electronics and sensor modules.

KDC Has New Telephone Number
KDC has a new main office line. Beginning November 4, 2008, our new number is 1-866-964- LEAN (1-866-964-5326). For those who have had difficulty recently with our previous 7407 number, please accept our apologies. The transition from old to new was not nearly as simple or timely as advertised. But it is done. Our sincere thanks for your continuing support.

Greg Scharnott Named to Head KDC's Wisconsin Office
Greg Scharnott, Senior Operations Consultant, has been named to head KDC’s Wisconsin office. Greg is a seasoned and highly successful manufacturing executive with a strong background in operations improvement while holding executive posts at a number of specialty manufacturers in the Midwest. He was with GE for several years and is a graduate of its renowned Manufacturing management Program. Greg holds a BS in Mechanical Engineering and an MBA.