May 18, 2026
Practical Guidance, Real Results: LMI Manufacturing’s Journey to ISO 9001 Success
Company Profile
Founded in 1960 and owned by Ryan Konicek since 2018, LMI Manufacturing specializes in laser, forming, welding, assembly, and coating for customers across Wisconsin and nationwide. From components for giant fulfillment centers and data centers to food pans for national convenience stores, LMI manufactures the “invisible backbone of modern life.” The company’s reputation for quality and precision has fueled steady growth, but for Ryan, one long-standing goal remained: achieving ISO 9001 certification.
Situation
As customer requirements evolved, ISO 9001 certification became essential to winning new business. “We had customers asking as a prerequisite if we were ISO certified,” Konicek said. “It was becoming a blocker to new business.” LMI initially set out to achieve certification independently, investing significant time and effort into documenting processes and building systems. But without prior experience, the process quickly became overwhelming. “We made the process too complex, and it became impractical,” Konicek said. After ten months of working on it in-house, Ryan realized they needed someone who had been through the process before—someone who could guide the effort and help the company finally cross the finish line.
“If I’d known then what I know now, I would have called WMEP much earlier. We spent far more time and money trying to get the ISO certification ourselves.”
– Ryan Konicek, Owner, LMI Manufacturing
Solutions
LMI turned to WMEP for support. The team began with an assessment, then worked side-by-side on the shop floor to simplify and implement systems that met ISO 9001 requirements. “WMEP didn’t just point out what was wrong—they showed us what to do and helped us do it,” Konicek said. “It was practical and collaborative—not a lecture like other consultants we’d worked with, but a conversation.” Together, they streamlined documentation, introduced visual cues, and completed a test audit to identify and close gaps before certification. Within months, LMI passed its official audit and achieved the certification—turning a years-long goal into measurable success and quickly opening doors with new customers.