{"id":14203,"date":"2026-06-09T13:59:10","date_gmt":"2026-06-09T17:59:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/legacy.webpublishing.oit.ncsu.edu\/ies\/?page_id=14203"},"modified":"2026-06-17T12:16:54","modified_gmt":"2026-06-17T16:16:54","slug":"mcs-machine-works","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/legacy.webpublishing.oit.ncsu.edu\/ies\/mcs-machine-works\/","title":{"rendered":"MCS Machine Works: Family Roots, Modern Precision and the Power of Continuous Improvement"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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POWER OF<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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Continuous Improvement<\/h1>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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What began as a small consulting business in 1990 has evolved into one of the Triangle\u2019s most trusted CNC contract manufacturing companies.\u00a0MCS Machine Works<\/a>, a family-owned precision machining company based near the Research Triangle Park (RTP), serves industries from aerospace to medical devices, embodying a legacy of innovation, adaptability, and continuous improvement that spans generations.

Founded by their father, Mike Appel, the company began as a consulting firm that helped large manufacturers transition from manual to computerized machining processes. That work naturally evolved into hands-on manufacturing. \u201cOur dad saw the direction the industry was headed,\u201d said Vice President Kyle Appel. \u201cHe began helping companies convert their manual processes to computer-based systems, and eventually those same companies asked him to just make the parts himself.\u201d

Today, brothers Kyle and Tyler Appel are moving into the leadership of the company, continuing their father\u2019s vision while modernizing the business for the future. \u201cWe grew up around this business\u2014spending summers helping out and learning hands-on in the shop,\u201d said Vice President Tyler Appel. \u201cIt\u2019s been incredible to see how far we\u2019ve come.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

Turning Challenges into Measurable Results<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

While Lean concepts are commonly used in manufacturing, applying them in public health presented a unique challenge.

\u201cTrying to apply Lean in a public health setting was difficult at first,\u201d Jarrett explained. \u201cPublic health is fluid and complex. We had to figure out how these tools worked in our environment.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Transforming Operations Through Certification and Partnership<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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MCS Machine Works\u2019 partnership with\u00a0NC State University Industry Extension Services\u00a0<\/strong><\/a>(IES) marked a pivotal moment in their growth. With IES\u2019s guidance, the company earned three major certifications\u2014AS9100D (Aerospace), ISO 13485 (Medical Devices), and ISO 14001 (Environmental Management)\u2014making it one of the few small manufacturers in North Carolina to achieve all three at the time.

\u201cThese certifications seemed out of reach at first,\u201d Kyle recalled. \u201cBut with Mitch Poteat and the IES team leading the process, we realized we could do it. They guided us every step of the way. We truly couldn\u2019t have done it without them.\u201d

The impact was immediate. Certification opened doors to new markets, including partnerships with some of the world\u2019s largest pharmaceutical and technology companies. \u201cWe\u2019re now working with a major pharmaceutical company here in RTP,\u201d Tyler said. \u201cThat relationship wouldn\u2019t have been possible without ISO 13485. The certifications gave us the credibility and structure we needed to compete with much larger manufacturers.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

Operational Excellence and Cultural Change<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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The certification journey also transformed how the company operates day to day. \u201cWe thought \u2018quality\u2019 meant just making good parts,\u201d Kyle said. \u201cBut we learned it\u2019s about every aspect of the business\u2014from how you train employees to how you manage environmental impact.\u201d

Implementing the systems required for certification created a new level of structure and efficiency. \u201cIt\u2019s now our operating system,\u201d Tyler added. \u201cIt changed our culture for the better. We\u2019re more organized, more proactive, and more sustainable.\u201d

The ISO 14001 environmental certification, in particular, has become a powerful differentiator. \u201cWe were surprised by how much our customers cared about environmental standards,\u201d said Kyle. \u201cIt\u2019s actually the certification we get asked about most often. Being able to say we\u2019re environmentally certified has given us a real advantage.\u201d

The company continues to use environmental impact reports provided through IES to track recycling, stormwater runoff, coolant reuse, and other sustainability metrics. \u201cIt\u2019s not just about compliance\u2014it\u2019s about accountability,\u201d Kyle explained. \u201cWe\u2019re proud of the cleaner, more efficient operation we\u2019ve built.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

A Growing Business with Measurable Impact<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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Since partnering with IES, MCS Machine Works has grown from 13 to 17 employees<\/strong>, strengthened retention, and achieved a reported economic impact of more than $915,000<\/strong>, including $250,000 in increased sales<\/strong>, $500,000 in retained sales<\/strong>, and $150,000 in new equipment investments<\/strong>.

\u201cWe\u2019ve been able to expand our customer base, invest in new technology, and offer full health insurance and competitive pay for our employees,\u201d said Kyle. \u201cThat\u2019s a direct result of becoming a stronger, more disciplined company.\u201d

Despite industry-wide workforce challenges, MCS Machine Works maintains an impressive record of employee retention. \u201cMost of our team has been with us for several years,\u201d Tyler noted. \u201cWe\u2019ve built a great culture\u2014one that values people, growth, and craftsmanship.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n\"MCS\n\n\n\n

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\nSTORIES HOME<\/a>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
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POWER OF Continuous Improvement What began as a small consulting business in 1990 has evolved into one of the Triangle\u2019s most trusted CNC contract manufacturing companies.\u00a0MCS Machine Works, a family-owned … Read more<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":634,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-14203","page","type-page","status-publish"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nMCS Machine Works: Family Roots, Modern Precision and the Power of Continuous Improvement - NC State University Industry Extension Services<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/legacy.webpublishing.oit.ncsu.edu\/ies\/mcs-machine-works\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"MCS Machine Works: Family Roots, Modern Precision and the Power of Continuous Improvement - NC State University Industry Extension Services\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"POWER OF Continuous Improvement What began as a small consulting business in 1990 has evolved into one of the Triangle\u2019s most trusted CNC contract manufacturing companies.\u00a0MCS Machine Works, a family-owned ... 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