Smiths Detection

Edgewood, MD
www.smithsdetection.com

Smiths Detection may not be a household name but you have likely used one of their products. Next time you go through airport security, look at the X-ray screening machine.

The company’s main product is X-ray screening machines, both in the TSA lines as well as the lower level of the airports, used in countries around the world.

The company maintains its high quality through programs such as Six Sigma. “From there it’s the culture we have and our basic values of integrity, respect, ownership, customer focus and passion,” says Clint Lancaster, senior manufacturing engineer, Smiths Detection.

The company handles a lot of government contracts, with all the regulations that involves, as well as adhering to ISO standards. This makes for a challenging environment but a successful one.

“We’re aligned from the top to the bottom, everybody’s on board with communications and so forth,” he says. “The Smiths Excellence System drives what we do, and it’s how we can get such massive programs out globally.”

They recently launched an internal communication platform called Buzz, similar to X or Facebook for employees, so people in the United States can communicate with colleagues in the UK, India or Malaysia. The company’s parent company is Smiths Group in the UK.

For other plants looking to improve quality, Lancaster says communication is key. “A lot of our success is that we’re able to communicate across divisions, across departments, similar to what the automotive industry uses,” says Lancaster, who used to work in the automotive field. Smiths Detection uses a form of APQP that they call PLP for product lifecycle program. “We design and innovate our product ourselves, from cradle to grave.” It starts from the inception of an idea until the company’s “gate 6” where they decide whether to continue a product or if it has ended its useful life.

The next goal is moving more towards Industry 4.0 and harnessing more data. Lancaster, a retired Marine, says he wanted to give back to the military by getting involved with this type of company.

“It’s exciting work.”