How INNERGY Transformed RCS's Business Model
Increasing Profitablility by 900%
“You’re making plenty of sawdust, but you’re missing the data.
Data is what’s going to pay the bills in the end.”
About RCS:
Joe Keller grew up watching his father transform RCS (formerly Ray’s Cabinet Shop) from a small local woodworking operation into a successful millwork company. Today, RCS employs over 100 people across multiple facilities and is a high-profit leader in custom architectural millwork.
Founded in 1997 by Joe’s father, a former schoolteacher turned woodworker, RCS started as a small cabinet shop in Ankeny, Iowa. With a strong work ethic influenced by competitive sports, Joe's father built the business through hard work and word-of-mouth. Joe joined the company in his teens and later returned to lead, but by 2018, the company struggled with outdated tools—Excel spreadsheets and manual systems—that couldn't keep up with its growth.
The Challenge:
Despite steady growth, Joe recognized RCS's reliance on manual tracking and spreadsheets was limiting progress. The company faced:
- No system for managing costs and revenue beyond spreadsheets
- Inefficient workflows across facilities
- Limited tracking of production metrics and accountability
- Lack of data insights, leading to reactive decision-making
The Solution:
After attending INNERGY’s forums and connecting with other industry leaders, Joe decided to implement INNERGY at RCS for two key reasons:
- INNERGY’s software offered a comprehensive solution to track, manage, and optimize operations.
- The INNERGY community provided mentorship, best practices, and support from peers navigating similar challenges.
Marc’s mentorship made a lasting impact on Joe’s understanding of how to run a modern woodworking business. “Marc has a way of seeing right into your business,” Joe says, recalling one of Marc’s key insights: “You’re making plenty of sawdust, but you’re missing the data. Data is what’s going to pay the bills in the end.”
Key Results:
INNERGY’s influence helped RCS make substantial operational improvements:
- Increased profitability from 1% to 10% on $17M in revenue
- Eliminated manual data entry, allowing leadership to focus on strategy
- Boosted efficiency with one-piece flow, replacing batch processing
- Improved production planning and cut lead times using data insights
- Gained access to best practices and mentorship, driving continuous improvement