BEATRICE – The winning work group of a Neapco Components continuous improvement program has selected a law enforcement program that works with kids, to receive a $2,000 donation from the Beatrice manufacturer.


The Half-Round work cell was the winner selected from monthly winners of the drive-line equipment maker located in the Gage County Industrial Park. They selected the Beatrice Police Department’s Lunch with a Cop program to receive the $2,000.


Neapco Plant Manager Chief Davidson talks about the Five-S Continuous Improvement program.
"Our efficiency is really based on how organized are we. This team has really reorganized this cell, so that they have everything they need, when they need it....so we're not waiting and looking and hunting for stuff, as I do at home. They've done this themselves. We provide the materials and the time. They provide the ingenuity."


A sign announcing the winner of the annual contest hangs above the work cell all year long.


"This cell had the highest consecutive audit results for the entire year. Plus, they went in and made changes to the cell to make it more efficient. So, it's really a year-long effort."


Officer Kristine Mangers and Sergeant Brian Carver accepted the company donation for a youth program that has had to pause most activity since last Spring, because of the coronavirus pandemic.


Mangers says the project relies on donations, not tax money. It started with shift officers who planned to use their own money to take kids out to lunch.
"I took the first kid out to lunch, I did a Facebook post on it...and after that, we started getting donations and we haven't had to spend any of our own money, since. It's been great. The donations help, so we can just take out all of the kids. This two-thousand dollars will help with that. We're really hoping to get back into this, really soon."


Police have even provided a fishing trip or golf trip for some youth. Mangers said there is quite a list of youth from 2020 waiting for their lunch date.
"Now that the program's been out for a while and people kind of know what's going on, it's very receptive. Some kids, very few...but some kids are really shy...especially if you ask them where you want to go to eat. You can go anywhere you want...you pick, we can even eat dessert first....we can eat only dessert...it doesn't matter....you can eat whatever you want. It's good."


The donation presentation was made at Neapco, Thursday morning. The Beatrice plant employs 260 workers. The company manufacturers equipment for giants like John Deere, Jeep, Honda, General Motors and Ford.