Aptus designworks inc series#

The companyвЂ™s systems are designed to provide maximum progress per calendar time. One staff member is a certified Tennessee P.E.ДЄPTUS has its own shop adjoining the engineering office, and the team not only does design work but also makes prototypes and even completes machine assembly and testing when needed. Five of its six engineers have BachelorвЂ™s Degrees in Mechanical Engineering and the sixth is an Industrial Designer with 3D graphics expertise. Nibali takes pride in the fact that APTUS is local, flexible, nimble and cost-effective. Another key challenge was finding a firm that would truly вЂown the projectвЂ™ and makes things happen, not just make drawings.вЂќ вЂњThe options usually fell into one of two categories вЂ“ small companies or individuals with limited resources and capabilities, or large ones with considerable overhead and hourly rates to match. вЂњWhen I was running in-house engineering departments I found it very difficult to find effective outsourced engineering,вЂќ he says. So, when he founded APTUS, initially working from his home and months later in a 500 square foot office in the Five Points area of Maryville, Nibali did so with some key principles and beliefs. sales, accounting, marketing, design and production I also saw some things that I would do differently from a management perspective.вЂќ вЂњI was exposed to all facets of the business. Nibali says the time with the start-up and the exposure to the world of small business вЂњwas fascinating, and whetted my appetiteвЂќ for entrepreneurship. The lessons he learned at DENSO and as a Product Engineering Manager at a start-up for 18 months after leaving DENSO clearly had a lasting impression on him. вЂњEven among Tier 1 manufacturers, DENSO is truly a standout.вЂќ вЂњI got to learn in a manufacturing environment that is truly world class,вЂќ Nibali says. He remained with the company for just over 10 years and rose to a supervisory position. Nibali arrived in Maryville in January 1996, a fresh college graduate joining an in-house machine design group at DENSO Manufacturing Tennessee, Inc. One of the staff engineers even doubles as a welder when needed. вЂњWe must hire very flexible people.вЂќ Nibali says, noting that everyone on staff is a вЂњdirect producer,вЂќ with no purely administrative or support roles present. Low overhead, highly skilled engineers, flexibility, and a commitment to excellent service are hallmarks of APTUS. As we toured the compact space, we could see how the building reflects the values that the Founder clearly embraces. вЂњWe gutted and re-designed it for what we do,вЂќ Nibali explained. The 1940s building formerly housed a coal distribution business and a bait and tackle shop. We interviewed the Maryland native and Clemson University graduate at APTUSвЂ™s significantly renovated building on Aluminum Avenue in Alcoa. вЂњOur original vision is still what we are doing though the how has changed.вЂќ вЂњWe are your in-house engineering and design shop, but outsourced,вЂќ the President of APTUS says. For Nibali, the milestone is validation of the business plan and value system he embraced in founding the firm. The small firm, founded eight years ago, just celebrated its first million dollar revenue year in 2014.

Noting that вЂњAptusвЂќ is a Latin word that means appropriate or fitting, the companyвЂ™s Founder says the name serves as a constant reminder to the designers here that it is our job to find the вЂappropriateвЂ™ solution to the clientвЂ™s challenge.вЂќ вЂњWe exist to facilitate the rapid execution of great ideasвЂќ вЂњWe are an engineering company that was literally designed by engineers to be an efficient and focused environment,вЂќ Ben Nibali says in describing APTUS DesignWorks, Inc.

Aptus designworks inc series#

(EDITORвЂ™S NOTE: This is the first in a two-part series focused on APTUS DesignWorks, Inc., a small engineering and design firm in Alcoa whose Founder and President takes great pride in its values.)Д«y Tom Ballard, Director of Innovation and Entrepreneurial Initiatives, Pershing Yoakley & Associates, P.C.