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Bell Engineering, Inc. was incorporated April 2, 1964, by William Bell (my father) and myself. My father was a tool & die maker most of his life and a tool room foreman, the 14 years prior to Bell Engineering. I worked my way through college in local machine shops and received a Mechanical Engineering degree from Michigan State University, June 1959. I worked at Lockheed Aircraft for one year as a tool engineer until the B-70 Bomber was cancelled, then returned to Saginaw to work as a tool engineer at Saginaw Steering Gear Division of GM. Early in 1964 my father and I left our respective jobs to start Bell Engineering. We were an immediate success as a prototype precision machine shop doing work for the auto and computer industries. During the fall of 1966 we began construction on the original building at 735 South Outer Drive. Unfortunately, in December 1966, my father passed away leaving me long on ambition and short on experience. We bought our first NC millin 1968 and our first NC lathe in 1973. We manually programmed from 1968 until 1973, then began computer programming on a time sharing system with Western Electric (APT language). In 1980 we switched to COMPACT II program language and an in-house DATA GENERAL computer. We computerized our accounting in 1984 and our estimating and job control in 1986.

Dottie Bell started selling for Bell in 1977 and helped to launch us into the Aerospace Industry at that time. She has also negotiated machine purchases and worked with process and material suppliers on quality assurance and certifications.

Ken Bess started in the trade in 1982 as a way to work his way through college and received a Mechanical Design Engineering degree in 1985. He then continued working as a machinist and progress through the levels of management to General Manager. He is board member of National Tool & Machine Association (NTMA), Senior member of Society of Manufacturing Engineers (S.M.E.), member of Michigan Manufacturing Association (M.M.A.)

Dave Sopcak came to Bell in 1983 as a tool and die maker. Dave has excelled in all areas of the shop. Dave was a tool room foreman before coming to Bell. He returned to management at Bell in 1997.

Ken Franz came to Bell in August of 1985 working as a machine tool operator. In 1986 he completed all the machine operations classes at Delta College. During 1990 he progressed from manual machine operator to CNC operator and programmer. In November of 1996 he became Bell's Quality Assurance Manager and joined the American Society of Quality in January of 1997.

A Brief History of Bell Engineering, Inc.
	Richard L.Bell

Bell Engineering, Inc. was incorporated April 2, 1964, by William Bell (my father) and myself. My father was a tool & die maker most of his life and a tool room foreman, the 14 years prior to Bell Engineering. I worked my way through college in local machine shops and received a Mechanical Engineering degree from Michigan State University, June 1959. I worked at Lockheed Aircraft for one year as a tool engineer until the B-70 Bomber was cancelled, then returned to Saginaw to work as a tool engineer at Saginaw Steering Gear Division of GM. Early in 1964 my father and I left our respective jobs to start Bell Engineering. We were an immediate success as a prototype precision machine shop doing work for the auto and computer industries. During the fall of 1966 we began construction on the original building at 735 South Outer Drive. Unfortunately, in December 1966, my father passed away leaving me long on ambition and short on experience. We bought our first NC millin 1968 and our first NC lathe in 1973. We manually programmed from 1968 until 1973, then began computer programming on a time sharing system with Western Electric (APT language). In 1980 we switched to COMPACT II program language and an in-house DATA GENERAL computer. We computerized our accounting in 1984 and our estimating and job control in 1986. Dottie Bell started selling for Bell in 1977 and helped to launch us into the Aerospace Industry at that time. She has also negotiated machine purchases and worked with process and material suppliers on quality assurance and certifications. Ken Bess started in the trade in 1982 as a way to work his way through college and received a Mechanical Design Engineering degree in 1985. He then continued working as a machinist and progress through the levels of management to General Manager. He is board member of National Tool & Machine Association (NTMA), Senior member of Society of Manufacturing Engineers (S.M.E.), member of Michigan Manufacturing Association (M.M.A.) Dave Sopcak came to Bell in 1983 as a tool and die maker. Dave has excelled in all areas of the shop. Dave was a tool room foreman before coming to Bell. He returned to management at Bell in 1997. Ken Franz came to Bell in August of 1985 working as a machine tool operator. In 1986 he completed all the machine operations classes at Delta College. During 1990 he progressed from manual machine operator to CNC operator and programmer. In November of 1996 he became Bell's Quality Assurance Manager and joined the American Society of Quality in January of 1997. Richard L. Bell