DIX Metals
DIX Metals was founded in 1972 by Bob Dix and the company has grown steadily over the years by focusing on specialization. DIX Metals has over 50 employees and occupies a 110,000 sq. ft. facility in Huntington Beach, California., fully equipped to meet its customers’ requirements. DIX Metals is an ISO 9001-2015 and AS9100 Rev. D certified, premier provider of precision-ground, machine-ready metal blanks made from 6061 add, 7075, 2024, 5052 aluminum, stainless steel, A36 carbon steel and other materials used extensively in manufacturing and machining processes. DIX Metals saves time and money for its over 2,800 clients, who require quality, prefabricated materials ground or machined to tight-tolerance specifications as fine as one one-thousandth of an inch. DIX Metals is also a national aluminum plate and stainless steel distributor and provides virtually any material or work with any materials a customer provides. DIX prides itself on being a “one stop shop” and has a singular goal: to make their customers’ production more profitable, in less time.
In today’s competitive marketplace, industries must monitor and improve processes and services rapidly to meet and exceed customer requirements. DIX and many DIX customers’ have successfully implemented statistical quality improvement methods to improve quality. Until2005, Quality Assurance (QA) documentation was primarily kept as paper in metal filing cabinets. However, as a result of the ever-increasing government and industry regulatory requirements and expectations, DIX Metals chose to implement MetalTrace® and MTRCreator™ software to manage as well as create MTRs, to further improve their customers’ experience.
Jon-David Nutter, General Manager of DIX Metals, states there were no hiccups in the transition from the manual paper filing system to the MetalTrace® electronic filing system and they experienced no downtime. That was of particular importance to DIX, a company that serves clients that require extreme precision for everything from automotive to aerospace products.
One of the major drivers of the need for MetalTrace® and MTRCreator™ was that regulators and customers now require 100% traceability of product and process, right from the original mill to DIX, including all intermediate supplier and shipper information. This means DIX must also keep track of various other QA documents like Certificates of Compliance and more. MetalTrace® and MTRCreator™ are used every day at DIX Metals. As Mr. Nutter says, “The wonderful thing about MetalTrace® is that all the additional information and documentation that is required, is stored and instantly available in MetalTrace®, including the customer purchase information. MetalTrace® ties everything together from mill to the final customer”.
Mr. Nutter was asked, if after working with MetalTrace for 15 years, would he choose it again. Without hesitation he answered, “Absolutely.” In conclusion, DIX Metals, MetalTrace® and MTRCreator™ have worked together seamlessly for a decade and a half and there is no reason that relationship won’t continue for many more decades.