With help from Kansas State University’s Advanced Manufacturing Institute, a Sterling company has been able to optimize its product designs, strengthening the quality of its product line.KMW Loaders designs and builds front-end loaders and backhoes that are used on AGCO, Case, John Deere, Mahindra and New Holland agricultural and residential tractors. The Advanced Manufacturing Institute and KMW have been working together for several years, utilizing finite element analysis to determine the structural integrity of their products. The institute also recently trained KMW staff on finite element analysis methods and how to effectively use the methods during the product development process.“Companies today are looking to be more competitive in their market,” said Taylor Jones, chief engineer at the institute.