Case Study: Miller Welding achieves high-performance, 99.999% uptime and a scalable manufacturing network with Brocade

Miller Welding Aims for World-Class Supplier Status with Help from Brocade

Miller Welding & Machine Company is a family-owned metal fabricator that specializes in high-mix, low-volume production and needed reliable, high-performance network infrastructure to support next-generation manufacturing automation, real-time analytics, and stringent just-in-time delivery windows. Its legacy network could not meet requirements for 1 GbE/10 GbE connectivity, 99.999% availability, VDI and wireless support across multiple sites, or the ability to withstand harsh shop-floor conditions while scaling with rapid growth.

Working with Advanticom, Miller Welding deployed an enterprise Brocade solution—ICX 6430/6450 access switches, ICX 6610 aggregation/core switches, and VDX 6720 switches with VCS fabric—to deliver PoE wireless, low-latency Citrix VDI, QoS for VoIP, and robust data transport. The upgrade enabled seamless cutover, nonstop production networking, expanded real-time process visibility (including plans to connect ~150 welders), and measurable business gains: headcount grew from 160 to 500, sales from $13M to $117M, improved product/process quality, better on-time shipments, and stronger competitiveness for lean/JIT manufacturing.

MILLER WELDING

Eric Miller

Vice President of Sales and Marketing, Miller Welding & Machine Company