Ted Ryfiak

Background

About Ted Ryfiak

I started in this business by following my father's lead. My apprenticeship at Preferred Tool & Die was the beginning and four years later I was a foreman leading the construction of small to large stamping dies. I stayed with them for 8 years. I was recruited by Gill Tool & Die to start a die building second shift where I also implemented the method of 100% detailed die construction to cut costs. I stayed with them for 6 years. Recruited again to help another die shop, Wolverine Tool & Engineering, I helped them implement the 100% detailed method by being a consultant / diemaker / CNC machine operator. There were no real management opportunities at Wolverine so after 2 years I put out feelers when I had their system on it's way. Maghielse Tool Corp.[now ITS in Grand Rapids, MI] offered me a position as their estimator where I processed, quoted and oversaw the design of large to very large stamping dies for ten years. When the owner sold controlling interest to a group that had their own estimator, I put feelers out to see what was available. I was offered an estimating position at Northwest Tool & Die where I took over all estimating duties and oversaw the design department. I modified the design and build techniques to allow Northwest to become a co-management source for Honda. I also fine tuned their detailed construction methods to become more cost effective. I was recruited again and spent a short time doing sales for H.C.Olsen & Associates. The purely sales position was less than a perfect fit for my skills, so I took a position with Challenge Manufacturing. Specialties: Processing sheet metal parts, costing any size stamping die, trouble shooting difficult parts and tools