Manufacturing
Excellence
L-R: Phil Mintz, Executive Director Industry Expansion Solutions and North Carolina Manufacturing Extension Partnership; Rick Shew, Associate Dean, Business and Career Services, Caldwell CCC&T; Tracy Gray, Plant Manager; Ryan Biddix, Continuous Improvement Manager
Sustainable
Manufacturing
L-R: Phil Mintz, Executive Director Industry Expansion Solutions and North Carolina Manufacturing Extension Partnership; Kathy Alexander, Compliance Officer, MSC; Gesche Morley, Co-owner; Eric Morley, Founder
Workforce
Development
L-R: Phil Mintz, Executive Director Industry Expansion Solutions and North Carolina Manufacturing Extension Partnership; Lauren Dudley, Regional Director, NCEdge; David Storey, CEO; Jay Simmons, Apprenticeship Program Manager
Innovative
Practice
L-R: Scott Daugherty, SVP, Chief Operating Officer; Joyce Spivey, Program Manager, North Carolina Manufacturing Extension Partnership; Phil Mintz, Executive Director Industry Expansion Solutions and North Carolina Manufacturing Extension Partnership; David Allsopp, Engineering Manager; Tomeka Downey, Assistant Production Manager; Katherine Reid, HR Manager; Tedi-Marie Usher-Ditzian, Senior Process Development Engineer; Travis Jones, Product and Applications Development Laboratory Manager; Jordan McDevitt, Senior Quality Engineer
Developing
Markets
L-R: Wendy Laing, Assistant Executive Director, IES Professional Learning, EHS Systems, and the Minerals Research Laboratory; Phil Mintz, Executive Director Industry Expansion Solutions and North Carolina Manufacturing Extension Partnership; Jimmy Mitchell, VP of Operations; Joachim Ley, COO
Continuous
Improvement
L-R: Philip Shoemaker, Director, The Polymer Center; Phil Mintz, Executive Director Industry Expansion Solutions and North Carolina Manufacturing Extension Partnership; Craig Tix, Vice President, Manufacturing; Stephen Bullock, President
Community
Outreach
L-R: Phil Mintz, Executive Director Industry Expansion Solutions and North Carolina Manufacturing Extension Partnership; Kami Baggett, Reginal Manager, Triad Region; Davide Varze, President; Christopher Drake; Thomas Mitchell; Scott Bryant, Process Engineer; Daniel Vigil, General Manager; Markus Rusznyak, Plant Manager
Durham, NC – The North Carolina Manufacturing Extension Partnership (NCMEP), the official representative of the MEP National Network™ and NIST MEP in North Carolina, announced the winners of the 2024 North Carolina Manufacturing Leadership Awards at the closing event of the 2024 North Carolina Manufacturing Conference, MFGCON. The NCMEP award program recognizes manufacturers’ commitment to the North Carolina manufacturing sector, proven by outstanding performance in manufacturing excellence, sustainability, workforce, innovation, developing markets, continuous improvement and community outreach.
The winners of the 2024 Manufacturing Leadership Awards include:
Leadership in Manufacturing Excellence
Teijin Automotive
Teijin Automotive’s remarkable journey to winning the 2024 Manufacturing Excellence Award showcases its steadfast commitment to innovation, efficiency, and employee empowerment. Recognizing the need for revitalization in 2020, Teijin Lenoir launched the “Our Way” initiative, a Lean Continuous Improvement Operating System emphasizing standardization, accountability, and employee engagement. Under this transformative system, Teijin prioritized cultivating a “people-centric” culture, installing operator boards for quick performance assessment, and fostering a sense of ownership and accountability across the enterprise. Through practical communication tools and initiatives like operator-led inspections, Teijin has significantly enhanced its quality scores and operational efficiency while sustaining robust environmental health and safety metrics. The organization’s profitability has soared, and esteemed organizations like the NCDOL and the Teijin Automotive Technologies Global Group have recognized its exceptional achievements. With a comprehensive training infrastructure and a focus on transparency and technological advancement, Teijin Automotive Technologies has set a new standard for excellence in the industry, making them deserving of the 2024 Manufacturing Excellence Award.
“Winning the 2024 Manufacturing Excellence Leadership Award fills us with immense pride for our team. We take a lot of pride in what we do. It’s challenging to express the depth of my pride in this group of individuals because it’s about the collective effort of our entire organization. We function as a cohesive unit; this award is a testament to our collaborative spirit and dedication. It validates the hard work and commitment our organization has put in, and we are truly grateful for this recognition.”
– Tracy Gray, Plant Manager, Teijin Automotive
Leadership in Sustainable Manufacturing
Carolina Timberworks
Carolina Timberworks, a pioneer in the timber frame industry, stands out as a sustainability leader for its unique approach. As a designer and manufacturer of custom timber frame structures, they have crafted homes, barns, outbuildings, “party barns,” and commercial structures like offices, churches, and outdoor market spaces. They have a rich history of 21 years and over 350 projects completed nationwide and beyond.
Founded by Eric and Gesche Morley, Carolina Timberworks departs from the traditional process of building the timber frame structure on-site, instead prefabricating the structure in an indoor facility in West Jefferson, NC. This ensures higher quality, more efficient energy use and minimizes on-site time. Carolina Timberworks’ commitment to sustainability is evident in its construction process. They spent less than a week on-site, erecting a cut and assembled structure in West Jefferson. This process, powered by solar energy and an automatic robotic saw, is a significant step towards achieving Net Zero carbon impact.
“We are thrilled and honored to receive the 2024 Sustainability Leadership Award. At Carolina Timberworks, sustainability is at the core of everything we do. This recognition validates our commitment to building environmentally responsible timber homes and structures. It’s a testament to our team’s dedication to creating lasting, beautiful, eco-friendly spaces that stand the test of time.”
– Eric Morley, Founder of Carolina Timberworks
Leadership in Workforce Development
Machine Specialties Inc.
Machine Specialties Incorporated (MSI) is a forward-thinking manufacturing company specializing in precision machining and fabrication solutions. Located in Whitsett, North Carolina, MSI has established itself as a leader in the industry through its commitment to innovation, quality, and workforce development.
Machine Specialties Incorporated (MSI) has demonstrated workforce excellence through various programs to develop its workforce. They have collaborated with three community colleges to actively recruit new employees, establishing an incumbent employee training initiative as an internal young adult apprenticeship program. Additionally, MSI has partnered with three counties—Alamance, Guilford and Rockingham—to recruit youth apprentices directly from high school, offering them a two-year degree from a local community college. The company currently engages with the state, the Department of Adult Corrections (DAC) and local leaders to initiate a local Prison/Reentry workforce apprenticeship program, showcasing a commitment to inclusivity and community support. Furthermore, MSI was recently certified as the first manufacturer in the state to be a Family ForwardNC employer, demonstrating their dedication to employee well-being and work-life balance. MSI also offers internal programs for all employees focused on personal development, known as CORE, further emphasizing their commitment to nurturing their workforce at every level.
“Winning the Workforce Leadership Award is genuinely gratifying. Our programs have been a labor of love, with significant time and effort invested in their development. While we don’t necessarily need an award to validate their effectiveness, receiving this recognition is undoubtedly affirming. It’s a nod that says, “Yes, what you’re doing is different and unique.” Hopefully, our story will inspire other companies to consider similar initiatives. We were inspired by another company that had success with this approach, and it showed us that it’s not as risky as it might seem. By sharing our story and receiving this award, we hope to encourage other companies to embrace change, transform their culture and move forward in this progressive way.”
– Tammy Simmons, Vice President of Marketing and Culture, Machine Specialities Inc.
Leadership in Innovative Practice
Cormetech
Cormetech, a pioneer in emissions control and carbon capture technology, has been honored with the 2024 Innovation Leadership Award. This accolade recognizes Cormetech’s significant contributions to global environmental sustainability efforts through its innovation in advanced solutions and three decades of expertise.
Specializing in solid monolith honeycomb products, Cormetech has developed chemical processes that effectively clean exhaust emissions from a variety of combustion applications. These applications range from power plants and refineries to petrochemical facilities and industrial generators, including Direct Air Capture (DAC) systems. Cormetech’s products and solutions play a vital role in reducing harmful emissions and enhancing air quality worldwide.
Central to Cormetech’s achievements is its commitment to innovation and sustainability. The company’s ELITE™ catalyst technology optimizes the efficiency of combustion turbines. This innovation enables natural gas power plants to increase power output while decreasing natural gas consumption. Additionally, Cormetech’s CORAL™ technology, inspired by coral reefs, enhances CO2 capture in both DAC and Point Source Capture (PSC) systems. Supported by funding (DE-FE0032138) from the U.S. Department of Energy Office of Fossil Energy and Carbon Management’s National Energy Technology Laboratory (DOE-NETL), CORAL™ is set to transform carbon capture technology, aligning with global efforts to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050.
“Receiving the 2024 Innovation Leadership Award is a true honor for Cormetech. It validates our commitment to innovation, which is fundamental to our operations. This award is a testament to our dedicated employees, particularly our manufacturing and engineering teams, whose creativity and hard work drive our success. Many are drawn to Cormetech because of our solutions’ positive impact on the environment as we have been instrumental in reducing nitrogen oxides emissions globally. Looking ahead, our next frontier in innovation is carbon capture, and we are well-positioned to tackle this challenge. Winning this award further affirms that Cormetech is on the right path, and it motivates us to continue pushing the boundaries of innovation for the betterment of society.”
– Scott Daugthery, COO, Cormetech
Leadership in Developing Markets
Ziehl-Abegg
Ziehl-Abegg has been honored with the prestigious 2024 Developing Markets Leadership Award for its outstanding contributions to innovation, quality, and economic growth. The company’s recent investment of 100 million in a new production plant in Winston Salem, NC, marks its most significant single investment in one location in its 113-year history. This expansion is driven by the increasing demand for quiet, dependable, high-efficiency, energy-saving fans, showcasing Ziehl-Abegg’s commitment to meeting market needs and driving economic growth.
The new facility, covering 522,000 square feet, aims to enhance efficiency, shorten delivery times, and foster stronger customer partnerships. Ziehl-Abegg attributes its success to its North American employees and plans to add 600 more by 2030. It emphasizes job creation and regional prosperity. In addition to economic factors, the company strongly emphasizes environmental protection, offering products designed to conserve energy and maximize efficiency.
“Winning the 2024 Developing Markets Leadership Award is a testament to our dedication to growth and innovation in the North American market. This recognition validates our efforts to expand our presence and better serve our customers and the community for Forsyth County. We are proud of our organization’s hard work and commitment to excellence. We see this award as motivation to continue pushing the boundaries of what’s possible in our industry.”
– Jimmy Mitchell, ZIEHL-ABEGG
Leadership in Continuous Improvement
Power Curbers
Power Curbers has been honored with the 2024 Continuous Improvement Award for its remarkable dedication to enhancing manufacturing processes and driving organizational excellence. The journey began with a comprehensive evaluation of existing processes to identify inefficiencies, followed by implementing Lean training programs instilling foundational principles and practical tools such as 6S, Kaizen, and Value Stream Mapping. This initiative aimed to cultivate a culture of continuous improvement across all levels of the organization, fostering proactive problem-solving and operational enhancement.
The company’s commitment to Lean practices has yielded significant productivity, safety, and efficiency improvements, as evidenced by targeted Kaizen events and the inventory management overhaul. Embracing a just-in-time approach for parts delivery has streamlined production processes, optimized cash flow, and minimized excess inventory accumulation. Stephen Bullock, president and CEO of Power Curbers, emphasizes the importance of leadership involvement and early victories to drive successful continuous improvement initiatives. The recognition reaffirms Power Curbers’ commitment to excellence and inspires further progress towards operational excellence in the manufacturing industry.
“We are thrilled to receive the 2024 Continuous Improvement Leadership Award. The news was a fantastic surprise, and we couldn’t be more excited. We gratefully accept this prestigious honor for all our dedicated associates and sincerely appreciate the recognition. It reaffirms our commitment to continuous improvement and inspires us to push further towards excellence in everything we do.”
– Stephen Bullock, president and CEO, Power Curbers
Leadership in Community Outreach
Wieland
Wieland has been honored with the 2024 Community Outreach Award for its outstanding dedication to community engagement and support. Their commitment to uplifting their local area is evident through various initiatives, including sponsoring school programs, participating in community events and hosting employee-focused activities. The company’s core values prioritize employee success and a positive work environment, contributing to the well-being of employees and the broader community. Led by the Cultural Committee, these efforts ensure a coordinated approach to community outreach, fostering employee unity and inclusion. Despite initial skepticism, Wieland’s transformative culture has garnered employee pride and participation, significantly impacting morale and engagement. Their focus on honesty, integrity and consistent follow-through has built long-term trust within the community and among employees. By empowering its workforce and prioritizing community well-being, Wieland has become a positive influence in Pine Hall and beyond, earning recognition as a leader in community outreach.
“The recognition of the 2024 Community Outreach Leadership Award is a testament to the two years of dedicated effort we’ve invested in initiatives we wholeheartedly believe in. Seeing the genuine joy and warmth in the individuals we’ve been able to support brings immense satisfaction. Being acknowledged by a prestigious national organization like NCMEP as a leader in our community is truly a remarkable achievement for Wieland. It reaffirms the significance of our commitment to positively impacting the lives of those around us.”
– Davide Varze, vice president of North American Manufacturing and President, Wieland
Manufacturing
Excellence
Core Technology Molding Corporation
L-R: Brandon Frederick, Core Technology Engineering Manager; Kami Baggett, Industry Expansion Solutions Regional Manager; Kaleb Durham, Core Technology Project Engineer
Sustainable
Manufacturing
L-R: Phil Shoemaker, Polymers Center Director; Jonathan Mustich, Co-Founder Terraloam; Melissa McGurk, EDPNC International Trade Manager
Workforce
Development
L-R: Michael Mullins, Industry Expansion Solutions Defense Industry Initiatives Director; Lauren Dudley, NC Community College System Regional Director of Customized Training – Northeast; John Oswald, President/CEO Mills Manufacturing
Innovative
Practice
L-R: Audrey Brown, Firstwave Innovations Business Development Manager; Tyler Brown, Firstwave Innovations Vice President of Manufacturing; Michael Druga, Firstwave Innovations President / CEO
Economic
Development
Precision Swiss Products, Inc.
L-R: Phil Mintz, Executive Director Industry Expansion Solutions and North Carolina Manufacturing Extension Partnership; Joyce Spivey, Economic Development Partnership of North Carolina NC MEP Program Manager; Melissa Kozar, Hammond Enterprises CEO, Norbert Kozar, Precision Swiss Products CEO
Winston-Salem, NC – The North Carolina Manufacturing Extension Partnership (NCMEP), the official representative of the MEP National Network™ and NIST MEP in North Carolina, announced the winners of the 2023 North Carolina Manufacturing Leadership Awards at the closing event of the 2023 North Carolina Manufacturing Conference, MFGCON. The NCMEP award program recognizes manufacturers’ commitment to the North Carolina manufacturing sector, proven by outstanding performance in manufacturing excellence, sustainable manufacturing, innovation, workforce development and economic development/developing markets.
The winners of the 2023 Manufacturing Leadership Awards include:
Leadership in Manufacturing Excellence
Core Technology Molding Corporation
Core Technology Molding Corporation, located in Greensboro, NC, has been a cornerstone of the local and state economy and has created jobs for the East Greensboro community since 2006. The company’s influence on the next generation of the manufacturing workforce is undeniable since they joined ApprenticeshipNC and started an apprenticeship program for maintenance and tool and die makers.
Core Technology uses sustainable, 100% recycled material for 1,000,000 parts for BMW Manufacturing.
Core Technology excels in innovative solutions by facilitating mold trials with hemp and plastic that create lighter and more substantial parts. The organization has continually adopted automation, which has expanded annual production from 2 million parts to over 200 million parts. Innovation in processing materials, increasing production capabilities, and increased competitiveness allowed Core Technology’s to bring manufacturing businesses and jobs back to the United States from overseas.
In 2022, Core Technology was named the Small Business of the Year by the Greensboro Chamber of Commerce and the NC Small Business of the Year by Business NC magazine. Core Technology’s bright future is bright; in April 2023, the organization launched a 6000 sq. ft. expansion project.
Core technology is making a difference in the local and state economy; educating and training the next generation through apprenticeships; working to discover sustainable processes and materials; adopting advanced manufacturing and automation to be more competitive and reshore manufacturing jobs to the US.
“Manufacturing excellence is the process of achieving World Class benchmark performance that includes: Minimum 1.33 Cpk first-time quality, 100% on-time customer delivery, year-over-year continuous process improvement and zero-harm commitment to safety and the environment.”
– Geoff Foster, CEO, Core Technology
Leadership in Sustainable Manufacturing
Terraloam, LLC
Terraloam LLC is a privately held manufacturing company based in Charlotte, NC. Terraloam’s mission is to improve the well-being and health of all workers, the general public, and the earth by developing innovative sustainable products.
Terraloam has developed the world’s first and only fully compostable medical gown, BioGown®. The organization was inspired to create BioGown® after learning about the amount of plastic waste sent to landfills during the pandemic. Each year in the US alone, over 18 empire state buildings worth of plastic gowns are sent to landfills — these gowns take over 400 years to break down. BioGown® is manufactured using recycled gowns and when mixed with food and natural materials using hot composting will create nutrient-rich soil. Terraloam’s gowns directly reduce landfill waste and CO2 emissions by using a no-till method for their community gardens.
The company works extensively with North Carolina hospitals to implement the use of BioGown® and Terraloam compostable patient bags. Terralom delivered 60,000 gowns to Atrium Health in 2022; this product reduced Atrium landfill waste by almost 40,000 pounds.
“Our mission to research, manufacture and distribute sustainable protective apparel for all has led to breakthroughs in how we approach waste management in multiple sectors, including healthcare. As a result, our corporation has transformed our business model to provide sustainable products and ways of improving community health, such as establishing community gardens that use soil derived from our compostable products.”
– Jonathan Mustich, CEO, Terraloam
Leadership in Workforce Development
Mills Manufacturing
Specializing in highly engineered, specialized sewn products, Mills Manufacturing has been a global leader in producing military parachute systems and components for over 75 years. Serving all five branches of the United States Department of Defense and international allies, Mills Manufacturing is a trusted supplier of military parachute systems, including airborne troop parachutes, cargo parachutes, extraction deceleration parachutes and emergency parachutes.
Mills Manufacturing places a high priority on workplace culture and diversity. The company currently has 130 employees including several long-term employees with over 20 years of service. Mills has a culturally diverse workforce, with approximately one-third native U.S. Citizens, one-third Hispanic and one-third from Eastern European regions, with a majority from Ukraine and Moldova. Mills’ diversity is represented in all departments and levels of the organization, including engineering, HR and training, quality control and manufacturing supervision. Through a faith-based community organization, Mills recently hired several Afghan refugees.
“Mills Manufacturing has always prioritized workplace culture where all employees are valued, respected and empowered. This has created an environment that has allowed us to grow by hiring a culturally diverse workforce where as many as five different languages are spoken and where our employees take the time to get to know each other, understand each other’s culture and support each other to help our company succeed. This also creates opportunities for personal growth where each of our different cultures is represented in all departments of our company including engineering, HR and training, quality control and manufacturing supervision.”
– John Oswald, President/CEO, Mills Manufacturing
Leadership in Innovative Practice
SinnovaTek
In 2020, SinnovaTek, a North Carolina-based food technology company announced the opening of its flagship FirstWave Innovations location in Raleigh. FirstWave is a precision-scale aseptic food co-packing facility and a working pilot facility for SinnovaTek and SinnoVita technologies.
FirstWave is an innovation-to-commercialization catalyst that provides a platform for companies and entrepreneurs to launch and test new products in a high-quality, high acid and low-acid aseptic format without the minimum order quantities generally required for a launch.
The organization’s unique model caters to small and growing brands without sizable minimum order quantities usually required by aseptic co-packers (while most packers require 2-5 million annual commitments, Firstwave can run as little as 2000-5000 units). They also use high-quality continuous-flow microwave technology to quickly pasteurize and sterilize food products while retaining flavor, nutrition and color; allowing for clean-label and wholesome products. The company’s customers have launched several first-of-their-kind products using Firstwave services because of their unique capabilities.
“We proudly offer a market entry point for small and growing brands. A lack of scaling options should not stifle innovation. As we’ve seen more demand for our services, we are bolstering our capabilities and infrastructure to match the need.”
– Tyler Brown, Vice President of Manufacturing, SinnovaTek
Leadership in Economic Development
Precision Swiss Products, Inc.
Precision Swiss Products, Inc. uses the newest technologies to create high-precision, complex parts from difficult-to-manufacture metal and plastic materials for the medical device, aerospace and semiconductor industries. These parts have tolerances that are smaller than a strand of hair. The organization makes parts that make a difference in people’s lives from implantable medical devices to critical jetliner parts to equipment that makes semiconductors powering AI or video games.
In 2021, the organization grew by 38% despite the absence of sales in the aerospace market due to COVID’s impact on that industry. In 2022, the company expanded from California to Leland, North Carolina to add capacity for the increased demand. In 20 months, Precision Swiss Products went from planning an expansion in December 2020 to receiving the Certificate of Occupancy for a new 50,000 sq ft facility in August 2022. The new facility allowed Precision Swiss Products to meet the increased demand of $18M in sales. Through the expansion project, the organization created approximately 40 new high-skilled jobs in Leland. In addition to the new business, Precision Swiss Products also grew the company’s existing sales by 9% in 2022.
The organization is positioned to grow $45M in sales over the next several years, providing significant opportunities for more new, highly skilled jobs. Precision Swiss Products works directly with Brunswick Community College to develop an apprenticeship program to get kids interested in manufacturing as early as junior high.
“Precision Swiss Products, Inc. (“PSP”), located in Leland, is a high-precision global manufacturer specializing in small complex metal and plastic parts for the Medical Device, Semiconductor and Aerospace markets.
PSP looks forward to and is committed to continuing to work with the great state of North Carolina, Brunswick and Columbus counties and their respective community colleges to develop a sustainable talent pipeline to fill our community’s growing highly skilled workforce. PSP and local officials are engaging students as early as junior high school to start to educate and encourage them to look at these lucrative highly skilled jobs as great career choices. We are working closely with Brunswick Community College to develop a comprehensive Apprenticeship program. We are proud to be a partner in helping to further develop our community’s economic future.”
– Stephen Dillon, CFO and General Manager, Precision Swiss Products East
Manufacturing
Excellence
L-R: Will Webb, #C Store Fixtures Industrial Engineer / ISO Management Representative; Grace Robbins, 3C Store Fixtures New Business Development
Sustainable
Manufacturing
L-R: Phil Mintz, Executive Director Industry Expansion Solutions and North Carolina Manufacturing Extension Partnership; Chris Bevin, Nester Hosiery Senior Vice President
Workforce
Development
L-R: Phil Mintz, Executive Director Industry Expansion Solutions and North Carolina Manufacturing Extension Partnership; Clifton Dial, VBC Manufacturing Training Manager; Donovan Sanderson, VBC Manufacturing Production Training Coordinator
Innovative
Practice
Queen City
Engineering & Design
L-R: Phil Mintz, Executive Director Industry Expansion Solutions and North Carolina Manufacturing Extension Partnership; Ashley Carriker, Queen City Engineering CFO / Office Manager; Rex Carriker, Queen City Engineering President; Adrianne Kroll, Industry Expansion Solutions Assistant Director of Quality
Economic
Development
L-R: Don Huneycutt, NC Community College System Regional Director; Pat Queen, STI Fabrics President of Human Resources; Sandra Jenkins, STI Fabrics Human Resources Manager; STI Fabrics Representative
Durham, NC – The North Carolina Manufacturing Extension Partnership (NCMEP), the official representative of the MEP National Network™ and NIST MEP in North Carolina, announced the winners of the 2022 North Carolina Manufacturing Leadership Awards at the closing event of the 2022 North Carolina Manufacturing Conference, MFGCON. The NCMEP award program recognizes manufacturers for their commitment to the North Carolina manufacturing sector, as proven by outstanding performance in the areas of manufacturing excellence, sustainable manufacturing, innovation, workforce development, economic development/developing markets and community outreach.
The winners of the 2022 Manufacturing Leadership Awards include:
Leadership in Manufacturing Excellence
3C Store Fixtures, Inc.
Located in Wilson, NC 3C Store Fixtures (3C) has specialized in the development of innovative retail interiors inspired by customers’ brand identity since 1975. They are a one-stop shop for conceptual design, engineering, construction management, full-service manufacturing, logistics, consolidation, and installation. Their clients mostly consist of big-box retailers and franchises, a few of their customers are The UPS Store, United States Postal Service, IKEA, Walmart, Orangetheory Fitness, European Wax Center, Amazing Lash Studio, Merle Norman, V’s Barbershop, RNR Tire Express, Lowe’s Home Improvement, Wellfound Foods, Hershey, Love’s Travel Stop, and Vio Med Spa.
At 3C, they not only think of coworkers as part of their team, but as part of their family. 3C has a high employee retention rate, with employees averaging 16 years and even a few employees north of 40 years.
3C partners with Wilson Community College to develop internal talent in multiple areas of business. 3C regularly offers internships through the NC State University RuralWorks! program. This allows 3C to work with the top students from NC State University in engineering, IT and business, often resulting in a permanent hire. They also host job shadowing events and hire interns from the local high school system along with the Wilson Academy of Applied Technology (WAAT).
3C is ISO 9001:2015 certified and utilizes a Lean Manufacturing system and is a certified IKEA “IWAY” supplier. This certification was earned in recognition of how 3C responsibly sourced products, services, and materials while positively impacting people, society, and the planet. 3C is FSC Certified (Forestry Stewardship Council). Their FSC certification ensures products come from responsibly managed forests that provide environmental, social, and economic benefits. 3C also was the recipient of the United States Postal Service’s Supplier Sustainability Excellence Award. A Six Sigma project was recently completed which transformed the way parts are processed and transported throughout the manufacturing process. This allowed the organization to reduce time by an average of 8% for assembly labor on specific fixtures.
3C is constantly investing in new equipment and facility upgrades to remain an industry leader. 1.1 million dollars in equipment upgrades were made in 2021. It consisted of new machinery, building updates, software upgrades and the creation of a transportation department. They have invested in multiple company fleet additions, including five semi-trucks and liftgate trailers.
3C continues to be charitable in their community. Over the past year, 3C Store Fixtures has donated to the following organizations: Wilson Forward, Gig360 Young Professionals, First Presbyterian Church of Wilson, Eyes on Main Street, Wilson on the Move, Mulligans Fore Kids, Wilson Education Partnership, The CHEW (Children’s Hunger Elimination of Wilson), Shriners Hospital for Children, Fellowship of Christian Athletes, and The Hope Station. 3C Store Fixtures also spearheaded the industry-wide partnership with the Wilson County Health Department to help employees get access to COVID vaccinations.
Leadership in Sustainable Manufacturing
Nester Hosiery
Nester Hosiery, established in 1993 and located in Mount Airy, NC, designs and manufactures innovative socks for mountaineers, firefighters, military personnel and athletes. They are a socially and environmentally responsible company that goes the extra mile to provide its employees with a healthy, safe working environment.
The organization keeps track of internal energy and water usage monthly; they use this data to compare their yearly resource consumption and set goals for the following year. In 2020, the organization used 393,229 less kWh than it did in 2019. To help achieve their energy reduction goals, they explore potential energy-saving projects. Nester Hosiery has partnered with their local community college to participate in an air leak detection program. This program allows them to quickly identify and repair air leaks throughout their production processes, reducing wasted energy from unattended compressed air leaks. It is estimated that they could save 16,000 kWh through early air leak detection.
Along with their customers, Nester Hosiery strives to reduce plastic and cardboard usage. Currently, they recycle corrugated cardboard, paper, packaging, polybags, plastic film, shrink wrap, yarn cones, plastic bottles, aluminum cans, wax-coated label-backing, box strapping, metal, and electronic waste. They also encourage employees to bring recyclable materials from home if they do not have access to curbside recycling. Nester Hosiery diverted 212.22 tons of recyclable materials from the landfill in 2020.
The Facility Environmental Module (FEM) provides them with a greater insight into their environmental performance each calendar year. FEM helps assess and set goals for environmental management systems, energy use and GHG emissions, water use, waste management, and chemical management. It also provides them with benchmarking their environmental initiatives year after year.
Nester Hosiery is always looking for ways to make manufacturing more sustainable, including using bluesign® approved chemicals. Additionally, they moved production from electric to natural gas. They are dedicated to corporate social responsibility and recognize that environmental stewardship is fundamental to being a good corporate citizen. Nester Hosiery aims to manufacture and source quality socks that meet their customers’ technical and ecological requirements while using sustainable materials whenever possible that require the least amount of energy, water, and waste to produce.
“Sustainability is one of Nester Hosiery’s core tenants and we continually strive to improve our processes and systems to be the best global citizen we can be.”
– Anna Draughn, Director of Merchandising at Nester Hosiery
Leadership in Workforce Development
Volumetric Building Company (VBC Manufacturing)
Volumetric Building Company (VBC Manufacturing) utilized the Customized Training Program and developed a dynamic relationship with Richmond Community College when they arrived in Hamlet, NC in 2019. Access to funding and resources allowed VBC to quickly educate their safety, quality and leadership teams as they settled into their new location. COVID-19 restricted their ability to gather in large groups, resulting in minimal use of the funds in 2020. In January 2021, they were able to resume usage and continue to work with Richmond Community College and local NC trainers to educate and train employees at VBC Manufacturing.
VBC Manufacturing also worked with Richmond Community College to develop a modular construction curriculum (based on VBC Manufacturing competencies) to successfully recruit and effectively prepare potential hires to enter the modular construction workforce. There are no current models of a modular construction community college pathway. They plan to test their model to become the first in the nation to offer a modular-focused construction pathway (to support the growing industry in our region).
VBC Manufacturing is also collaborating with local high school career and technical education (CTE) program directors and instructors to embed VBC Manufacturing competencies into their current curriculums (carpentry, plumbing, electrical, and HVAC). The skills for the modular construction process are similar to traditional construction but very different because modular construction takes place on a manufacturing production line instead of in an onsite setting. For this reason, they are working with the CTE director on implementing time management, lean manufacturing best practices, and Six Sigma into their current curriculum. The collaborative curriculum will better prepare CTE students to enter a traditional construction job and at the same time be prepared for success in a modular construction setting.
“VBC Manufacturing is growing and has plans to lead the way in modular construction in the U.S. and the world. We hope the processes and programs we are creating will serve as models for the mod con industry in workforce development and the recruitment of local talent. Our relationships with Richmond Community College and our local middle and high school CTE programs will be vital in our success. As we work to identify skills/competencies needed to be successful in modular construction, we must communicate these competencies to our surrounding educational institutions so that they can embed them into their student learning outcomes. This exchange of information is the key to growing future mod con professionals.”
– Clifton Dial, Training Manager
Leadership in Innovative Practice
Queen City Engineering
Queen City Engineering is an engineering and development company located in Concord, NC that pivoted to personal protective equipment (PPE) production in 2020. At the height of the pandemic, they began to design, manufacture and install custom sneeze guards and driver barriers for the transportation industry. Because of their innovative action, they did not need to lay off and cut back employees, instead, they were able to bring on additional staff. To date, they have sold over 4000 barriers to 90+ agencies throughout the USA.
The engineering company is centered around innovation and they strive to create real-world solutions. They have been asked by the Charlotte city council to help them address ongoing bus operator safety concerns and have partnered with Thomas Built Buses to develop a School Bus Driver Barrier system, the only OEM-approved product of its kind. In addition to all of these excellent projects, they also received a grant from the NCMEP for ISO 9001:2015 implementation.
“We feel that the overwhelming success and growth we have seen from our ability to quickly adapt to the economic swings of 2020.”
– Rex Carriker, President of Queen City Engineering
Leadership in Economic Development
Specialty Textiles Incorporated Fabrics (STI)
Specialty Textiles Incorporated (STI) Fabrics has been an integral part of the Kings Mountain, NC community for nearly 6 decades. They understand that as their business grows, their impact on the community grows as well and they are determined to make that impact a positive one for generations to come.
STI’s success with the program is due in large part to the acceptance of its existing workforce. The involvement with Gaston County Corrections and their Work Release Program has highlighted their latest community outreach initiative. Since the start of the partnership, about 40 inmates have worked at the plant, weaving and warping yarn, cleaning facilities, preparing the fabric and performing other duties needed around the business. Inmates work on the first shift and are required to follow strict rules set by Gaston Correctional Center to remain employed. A single infraction removes the inmate from the work program and would take several years to earn another opportunity.
Out of 30 inmates sent to work at STI in the last year, 12 are still employed through the Work Release Program, 18 have been released, and ten have been hired full time at the plant. As a result, 56% of work-released inmates return to work at STI.
STI credits the $15/hour starting pay rate as the reason they have experienced a high retention rate. When the inmates are released from serving their term in prison, they will have the ability to pay for basic things like transportation, food and housing. At that time, they also have opportunities to increase their pay by working different shifts and applying for other positions in the company and continue to qualify for health care and retirement benefits.
STI understands the valuable skills that many of the inmates possess and the confidence they gain in knowing they have an occupation after their release. On March 30th, 2022, they sponsored an event dedicated to bringing awareness to the problems surrounding re-entry in Cleveland County, North Carolina. They teamed up with Officer Jennell McCorkle, who runs a Prison 2 Community (P2C) Simulation titled “In Their Shoes.”
In Their Shoes is designed to show the general public exactly how difficult it is to navigate society upon release from jail or prison. In this simulation, you are assigned a new identity and different paths to take upon your release. The simulation is designed to bring attention to this issue and provides the necessary resources offenders need after being released. In Their Shoes has garnered the attention of many high-ranking state officials, including NC Governor Roy Cooper, House Speaker Tim Moore, and several other community leaders that spoke at the event.
“The Work Release Program has been extremely beneficial for STI Fabrics, the makers of Revolution Performance Fabrics. The program’s success is largely due to our existing workforce giving it a chance to grow. Through our involvement in several re-entry simulations, the company better understands the challenges facing the men upon their re-entry to society. After they complete the Work Release Program, STI is able to hire a skilled associate that understands our company’s culture. We all get the opportunity to bring some light to the end of a long tunnel for these men and their families. The STI family and the NCDPS are working hard to make Cleveland and Gaston Counties better places to live and work.”
– John Kay, President of STI Fabrics
Manufacturing
Excellence
L-R: Kenny Flowers, NC Department of Commerce Assistant Secretary; Phil Mintz, Executive Director Industry Expansion Solutions and North Carolina Manufacturing Extension Partnership; Rick Coffey, McCreary Modern President; Doug Yoder, McCreary Modern CFO
Sustainable
Manufacturing
L-R: Kenny Flowers, NC Department of Commerce Assistant Secretary; Chris Brown, Enviva Community Relations Manager; Phil Mintz, Executive Director Industry Expansion Solutions and North Carolina Manufacturing Extension Partnership
Workforce
Development
L-R: Kenny Flowers, NC Department of Commerce Assistant Secretary; Phil Mintz, Executive Director Industry Expansion Solutions and North Carolina Manufacturing Extension Partnership; Chuck Jarrell, 3M Plant Engineering Manager; Garry Krontz, 3M SIC Maintenance Leader
Innovative
Practice
L-R: Kenny Flowers, NC Department of Commerce Assistant Secretary; Bill Murphy, Alotech President; Tommy Kirk, Alotech COO; Phil Mintz, Executive Director Industry Expansion Solutions and North Carolina Manufacturing Extension Partnership
Continuous
Improvement
L-R: Kenny Flowers, NC Department of Commerce Assistant Secretary; Elizabeth Jennings, Equilibar Marketing; Jeff Jennings, Equilibar Founder / President; Phil Mintz, Executive Director Industry Expansion Solutions and North Carolina Manufacturing Extension Partnership
Economic
Development
L-R: Kenny Flowers, NC Department of Commerce Assistant Secretary; Phil Mintz, Executive Director Industry Expansion Solutions and North Carolina Manufacturing Extension Partnership; Bryan Peterson, Altec-Industries Human Resources Manager
Winston-Salem, NC – The North Carolina Manufacturing Extension Partnership (NCMEP), the official representative of the MEP National Network™ and NIST MEP in North Carolina, today announced the winners of its 2019 North Carolina Manufacturing Leadership Awards at MFGCON in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. The NCMEP awards program recognizes manufacturers for their commitment to the North Carolina manufacturing sector, as proven by outstanding performance in the areas of manufacturing excellence, sustainable manufacturing, innovation, workforce development, economic development/developing markets and continuous improvement.
“These special awards give NCMEP the opportunity to recognize the commitment to growth, community, and excellence among our NC manufacturers. We honor those who are often not readily visible as they provide leadership in best practices and advanced technology application.”
– Phil Mintz, NCMEP Director and Executive Director, NC State Industry Expansion Solutions (IES)
The winners of the 2019 Manufacturing Leadership Awards include:
Leadership in Manufacturing Excellence
McCreary Modern, Inc.
McCreary Modern is an OEM manufacturer of private label upholstery, occasional, dining and bedroom furniture. They are a vertically integrated ESOP and family owned, Made in America manufacturing company, utilizing locally sourced materials. They focus on supporting area suppliers and machinery manufacturers, creating jobs and reducing the carbon footprint of the company. McCreary Modern has grown organically and now employs over 1000 employee-owners in six factories, all located in North Carolina, totaling over one million square feet.
Their culture embraces continuous improvement and has embraced change management often referred to as “The Handwriting on the Wall” methodology for over 20 years. They incorporate numerous visual management techniques from dying their assembly glues to color coded production tickets. McCreary Modern was an early adopter of RFID technology, tracking their materials and products from raw materials through packaging and shipping of their made to order products. One of the newest innovations allows production and specification data that can be sourced remotely by an iPhone.
McCreary Modern was instrumental in the creation and support of the Caldwell Community College Furniture Institute and the family has donated many dollars to local charities, hospitals and universities.
McCreary Modern has always approached sustainability as a core value of its company. A strong social conscience, along with reasonable business stewardship, has guided their decision-making process. Long before sustainability was used as a marketing tactic, McCreary Modern understood the multiple benefits of valuing social and natural capital for both moral and economic reasons. Their business culture embraces the concept of sustainable development. Recycling has been their standard for over 20 years. The company recycles more than 3,700 tons of wood waste, 715 tons of fabric/ leather waste and 100 tons of paper and cardboard annually.
Leadership in Sustainable Manufacturing
Enviva Northampton
Enviva is the world’s largest producer of industrial wood pellets, a renewable and sustainable energy source used to generate electricity and heat. Enviva owns and operates wood pellet processing plants and deep-water export terminals in the Southeastern United States. They export their wood pellets primarily to power plants in Europe and Asia. Enviva’s pellets are made using sustainable practices that protect Southern forests. They employ about 1000 people.
Enviva sources wood from more than 1,000 private landowners and provides an additional market for their low-grade wood — increasing the profitability of timber harvest activities and creating an incentive to keep forests as forests. Enviva does more than make wood pellets — they help small towns participate in and benefit from the global economy, connecting local businesses to international markets through exports.
The most significant element of a recent $45 million expansion project was the installation of three regenerative thermal oxidizers (RTOs) throughout the production line designed to reduce emissions from the facility. The new air quality control measures will allow Enviva to be more flexible in its fiber use while reducing the facility’s emissions by 50 percent. The financial commitment to these additional air quality control measures demonstrates Enviva’s willingness to achieve a positive result with air quality and other environmental goals.
Leadership in Workforce Development
3M
3M Pittsboro’s Plant Engineering Manager Chuck Jarrell is in charge of developing a workforce pipeline for 3M’s operation that employs about 55 people in Pittsboro. He is also heavily involved in helping to develop corporate workforce programs for 3M sites outside of Pittsboro. Their workforce maintenance strategy is a three-fold approach: technical, strategic and cultural. On the technical and strategic side, the organization offers maintenance apprenticeships, which allows the technicians to better understand the theory behind maintenance techniques while applying them on the job and using them to further their career.
3M often hires talented individuals who might not know exactly what career path they want to take, and partners them with experienced, tenured technicians to expose them to a variety of career options. They also hire college students and expose them to various industries to help both them and the company get a look at each other with the possibility of longer-term relationships after they graduate. 3M builds its culture around training and support to all new hires and at all stages of their careers at 3M.
Leadership in Innovative Practice
Alotech
Alotech is a contract manufacturer located in Goldston, North Carolina, providing contract manufacturing services to small businesses. In addition to re-manufacturing prototyping and product development services, they make investments in companies seeking to expand and improve their processes.
For example, an Alotech remanufacturing customer had been using a manual process to remove rivets from an assembly. Not only was this labor intensive, but the customer experienced an average of 15 reportable injuries each year directly related to the process. Alotech was subcontracted and automated the process, reducing the labor time by 80 hours per week and, more importantly, annual OSHA reportable incidents were reduced from 15 to 0.
Another key customer was experiencing low yields on its remanufactured product line because parts were being discarded due to cosmetic defects. To maintain production of its remanufactured assemblies, the customer was using a high percentage of new components, resulting in a profit margin of less than 9%. Alotech’s engineers collaborated with the customer to develop a process that differentiates cosmetic and functional defects. This resulted in a drastic improvement in yields and reduced the use of cosmetically perfect parts in the remanufactured assemblies. The customer’s profit margin increased from 9% to 38% with no capital investment required. Alotech’s innovation solution was able to increase the client’s annual profit by $366,000.
Leadership in Continuous Improvement
Equilibar
Since 2007, Equilibar has grown from a basement start-up with one part-time employee to a dynamic employer of 25 highly skilled team members who design and manufacture specialty fluid control valves. On average, the company has been growing revenue at 25 percent a year and in 2019 received the Presidential “E” Award for Exports, the highest recognition a US entity can receive for making a significant contribution to US exports. Equilibar’s Continuous Improvement process asks for the entire team to participate and provide feedback, with quarterly management review. The process turtle diagram is used as a visual. Continuous Improvement efforts are meant to produce effective, improved processes, policies, performance and company culture. These are often enacted as a solution for customer cases, complaints, customer survey results, NCP/CAR(s), suggestion box feedback, risk analysis reviews, and management goals and visions. Categories include training, changes to processes, updates to / new procedures, new tools, purchases, building / equipment upgrades and webinars. All Equilibar team members are asked to participate in identifying recent Continuous Improvement Items. The process owner and backup are responsible to review, sort and score the team input for approval. Points are scored based on the worth of each individual Continuous Improvement item.
To score the items, the company uses the Fibonacci Sequence method. The items with the most weight are based on time spent / labor hours consumed and the cost associated. Equilibar has a company culture of auditing their 23 processes annually to continually make changes or verify success as needed. They maintain a quality management system that meets the requirements for ISO 9001:2015 certification.
Leadership in Economic Development
Altec-Industries
Altec is a leading provider of products and services to the electric utility, telecommunications, tree care, lights and signs and contractor markets. Their Burnsville, North Carolina plant specializes in manufacturing custom bodies built to exact customer specifications. The only manufacturer in the industry to offer aluminum, fiberglass, and steel body options, Altec Burnsville has built bodies for multiple industries since 2006.
Since opening its Burnsville facility in 2006, the company has continued to expand and enhance its operations in the community. Altec has twice expanded its Burnsville facility making it the largest manufacturing company located in Yancey County. The resulting stimulus to the economy has been evident, contributing significantly to Yancey County’s recent dramatic reduction in unemployment, rise in the prevailing median wage in the community and Yancey County’s rise from a Tier 1 economically distressed county to a Tier 2 county in 2019.
Altec continues to be dedicated to growing and expanding their business and footprint in Burnsville. They recently partnered with local officials in securing a $500,000 building reuse grant through the NC Department of Commerce and has announced its most recent expansion, the opening of a second manufacturing facility in Yancey County and the creation of fifty new full-time jobs.
Manufacturing
Excellence
L-R: KeAnne Hoeg, Industry Expansion Solutions Data Management Systems, Supplier Matching and Reporting Director; Tony Copeland, NC Department of Commerce Secretary; Tracy Canipe, 80 Acres Farm Chief of Engineering and Design; Phil Mintz, Executive Director Industry Expansion Solutions and North Carolina Manufacturing Extension Partnership
Sustainable
Manufacturing
L-R: Malinda Pagett, Project Manager, NC A&T State University, Hyster Yale Representative; Tony Copeland, NC Department of Commerce Secretary; Jesse Wigent, Global Program Manager; Phil Mintz, Executive Director Industry Expansion Solutions and North Carolina Manufacturing Extension Partnership
Workforce
Development
Carolina Precision Technologies
L-R: Lauren Dudley of NCCCS; Tony Copeland, NC Department of Commerce Secretary; Kenneth Harwood, Carolina Precision Technologies Production Manager; Phil Mintz, Executive Director Industry Expansion Solutions and North Carolina Manufacturing Extension Partnership
Innovative
Practice
L-R: Dan St. Louis, Director The Manufacturing Solutions Center; Stephen Hudson, Meridian Senior VP, Sales and Marketing; Tony Copeland, NC Department of Commerce Secretary; Debbie Sigmon, Meridian VP of HR and Safety; Tim Manson, Meridian President; Phil Mintz, Executive Director Industry Expansion Solutions and North Carolina Manufacturing Extension Partnership
Continuous
Improvement
L-R: KeAnne Hoeg, Industry Expansion Solutions Data Management Systems, Supplier Matching and Reporting Director; Gerald Radziewicz, Jr., American Woodmark Process Engineer; Tony Copeland, NC Department of Commerce Secretary; Bob Young, American Woodmark Director of Operations; Phil Mintz, Executive Director Industry Expansion Solutions and North Carolina Manufacturing Extension Partnership
Economic
Development
L-R: Jerry ‘Twig’ Wood III, President Brookwood Farms; Tony Copeland, NC Department of Commerce Secretary; Craig Wood, VP Brookwood Farms; Harry Swendsen, EDPNC; Phil Mintz, Executive Director Industry Expansion Solutions and North Carolina Manufacturing Extension Partnership
Durham, NC – The North Carolina Manufacturing Extension Partnership (NCMEP), the official representative of the MEP National Network™ and NIST MEP in North Carolina, today announced the winners of its 2018 North Carolina Manufacturing Leadership Awards at MFGCON in Durham, North Carolina. The NCMEP awards program recognizes manufacturers for their commitment to the North Carolina manufacturing sector, as proven by outstanding performance in the areas of developing markets, advanced talent development, continuous improvement, innovation and sustainability.
“Our state’s manufacturers continue to expand and excel in performance, leading to sustained customer satisfaction. It is important that we continue to nurture and recognize the contributions of small and medium-sized manufacturers as they lead the way in manufacturing growth and innovation throughout North Carolina.”
– Phil Mintz, NCMEP Director and Executive Director, NC State Industry Expansion Solutions (IES)
The winners of the 2018 Manufacturing Leadership Awards include:
Leadership in Manufacturing Excellence
80 Acres Farm
80 Acres Farms demonstrated exemplary practices across multiple areas of manufacturing excellence, earning the organization the NCMEP Manufacturing Excellence Award. The company has perfected a process where a discarded international shipping container can be repurposed to grow 80 acres of food in a single cycle using hydroponic methods. 80 Acre Farms manufacturers all of the equipment needed to achieve their goal of creating a national network of hydroponic farming operations in Granite Falls, North Carolina. The systems are utilized not only in North Carolina, but also at 80 Acres Farm sites in Arkansas, Alabama and Ohio.
Arriving in Caldwell County in 2016, 80 Acres Farms began with two employees in Granite Falls. The company has grown to 17 employees, with plans for additional expansion. 80 Acres Farms applies Six Sigma best practices toward the evolution of its farm operation and grow zone engineering. Utilizing this process, the company has reduced the grow cycle times of leafy greens and herbs by more than 30 percent as compared to conventional growth methods. In addition, by optimizing nutrient management, 80 Acres Farms can control the grow zone environment that allows the company to double the yields realized by traditional farming methods. Within the employee-driven Kaizen process, 80 Acres Farms has conducted trials for light spectrum, temperature and nutrients.
This innovation is made possible by the company’s engineering department working directly with the farm operations team to design, build and deploy grow zone equipment that is both user friendly and able to meet product standards. Just recently, the engineering unit redesigned a pump system to reduce electricity usage by 15 percent. In fact, each generation of grow zone designs has seen a 5 to 28 percent reduction in electricity usage.
80 Acres Farms has partnered with Caldwell Community College and Technical Institute (CCC&TI), Caldwell Early College and Caldwell County Schools to provide educational tours for students and instructors, speaking about vertical farming and grow zone engineering career opportunities. The company also has worked with the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services’ Division of Vocational Rehabilitation to hire interns for the farm operations. Since locating in Granite Falls and Caldwell County, 80 Acres Farms has hired employees from N.C. State University, CCC&TI and Catawba Valley Community College.
Leadership in Sustainable Manufacturing
Hyster Yale
At Hyster-Yale, the goal isn’t just to build the best lift trucks possible, but to create solutions that enable their customers to improve the overall efficiency and effectiveness of their businesses. Product development is informed, on-going and proactive to ensure lift trucks are some of the most innovative in the industry. They recently developed a Hydrogen fuel cell to power their material handling equipment. The only byproduct of this new fuel cell is water, creating a more environmentally friendly machine. It also provides a cost savings to its customers since they will no longer have to purchase batteries or charging stations for their equipment. Downtime is also decreased due to the time saved by the re-charging process. With former forklifts, recharging took about four hours; now the machine can be refueled with hydrogen in just one to two minutes. Customers can purchase new hydrogen cell-powered equipment or they can choose to retrofit their older models with a battery box replacement (BBR), easily converting their older machine to the new technology.
Leadership in Workforce Development
Carolina Precision Technologies
Carolina Precision Technologies (CPT), a Mooresville precision contract manufacturer, serves the commercial aerospace, medical device and specialty industrial markets. With attention to advanced talent development, they aim to improve workforce productivity, strategic execution and successful innovation. Over time, they have developed strong relationships with the local community colleges to utilize the college’s programs for training and development of their staff on Lean concepts, safety and general industry standards. In addition, they have developed a strong relationship with the Universal Technical Institute/Nascar Technical Institute (UTI), providing an internship for students working through their CNC machining program, And finally, CPT has developed an 18-week internship that allows their students to get hands-on experience in the machining field prior to graduation and offering their students an opportunity for full-time employment placement upon graduation from UTI’s program. It has allowed the students to see the full value of their personal investment in joining UTI’s program, along with providing a strong candidate pool to the CPT workforce.
Leadership in Innovative Practice
Meridian Specialty Yarn Group
Meridian Specialty Yarn Group (MSYG), like the rest of the textile market during 2001-2010, felt the impact of job and market losses, but survived by doing things that no one else would do. They could have closed their doors, but chose to invest in their people and the community. Currently they have 270,000 square feet at their plant in Valdese and are in the midst of a major, multi-million-dollar expansion of another 116,000 square feet, along with an extensive modernization of their existing plant. This will require the addition of at least 25 employees but it will make the facility one of the most modern yarn and fiber dyeing facilities in the world.
In this modernization effort, significant savings will be achieved by reductions in water, chemical and utility costs. Dye and chemical dispensing will be performed robotically including unloading and centrifugal extraction of dyed yarns. These changes will also create unparalleled capabilities to run variable quantities of endless colors of yarn. This enables MSYG to address the demands of the marketplace for quick turns and to maximize the color and fiber choices of its customers. The days of having long runs of the same color and fiber are over, and it takes a certain mindset and specialized equipment to respond to these demands. Not only did MSYG undertake modernization of their plant in Valdese, they upgraded their Ranlo, NC plant as well to bring wool spinning for carpet production back to North America. The wool will be offered in various blends and colors using naturally colored wool along with a complete range of shades of top dyed wool. The new wool carpet yarn operation expanded the Ranlo plant’s production capacity by an estimated 25%.
Leadership in Continuous Improvement
American Woodmark Corporation
American Woodmark Corporation is one of America’s leading cabinet manufacturers with a strong culture of continuous improvement, accomplished by innovating and reengineering manufacturing processes, supply chain management and business practices. They are committed to providing quality products, designed and produced in their North American facilities. This is clearly evident in their Hamlet, North Carolina facility where they focus on every detail, no matter how small, to help them become more efficient and proficient. The facility has recently completed eight continuous improvement projects with impressive results. For example, they documented that the rate for cell audits in quality was 81.6%. Their goal was to increase the rate to 95% by training employees on quality plans in order to decrease the number of quality defects. In doing so, they discovered that most defects occurred from air pressure (too little or too much pressure), causing quality issues. Upon completion of the cell audit and the training, the current quality rate stands at 98.71% and has saved the plant $1,196,837. They tackled another project that focused on unscheduled downtime on the rovers. In their analysis, they discovered changing of materials created the greatest percentage of downtime. The original goal was to reduce downtime to 20% but this improvement project helped reduce downtime to 21.9% for a savings of $136,188.97.
Leadership in Economic Development
Brookwood Farms
Four generations of the Wood family have been serving up pit-cooked barbeque since the 1970s. They believe that real, Southern-Style BBQ is made from roasting the meat low and slow over hickory charcoal. This dedication to tradition means their products are now at the center of the menu at some of America’s favorite restaurants, are available food for k-12 schools, universities (including the Naval Academy) and grocery and convenience stores. They produce over 14,000,000 lbs. of BBQ annually and sell in over 40 states.
One of the largest employers in Chatham County, Brookwood Farms has actively pursued expansion into the food service industry. To meet demands for its products, the company has invested in expanding its Siler City facility and hired new employees. This was notably done without incentives, which they qualified for, but chose not to pursue. When a recent food manufacturer announced it would build a new facility in Siler City, leaders at Brookwood Farms analyzed their own company’s wages to ensure competitiveness in order to retain their workforce. In addition to their direct economic impact, Brookwood Farms is supportive of community development activities that improve the quality of life for area residents.
Manufacturing
Excellence
L-R: Eaton Corporation Representatives; North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper; Eaton Corporation Representative; John Loyack, EDPNC, VP, Global Business Services; Phil Mintz, Executive Director Industry Expansion Solutions and North Carolina Manufacturing Extension Partnership
Sustainable
Manufacturing
L-R: North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper; Mirimichi Green Representative; John Loyack, EDPNC, VP, Global Business Services; Mirimichi Green Representative; Phil Mintz, Executive Director Industry Expansion Solutions and North Carolina Manufacturing Extension Partnership
Workforce
Development
L-R: Fairystone Fabrics Inc. Representative; North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper; Fairystone Fabrics Inc. Representative; John Loyack, EDPNC, VP, Global Business Services; Fairystone Fabrics Inc. Representatives; Phil Mintz, Executive Director Industry Expansion Solutions and North Carolina Manufacturing Extension Partnership
Innovative
Practice
Core Technology Molding Corporation
L-R: Calvin Smith, Core Technology Molding Engineer; Brandon Fredrick, Core Technology Molding Engineer; North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper; Geoff Foster, Core MTechnology Molding CEO; John Loyack, EDPNC, VP, Global Business Services; Phil Mintz, Executive Director Industry Expansion Solutions and North Carolina Manufacturing Extension Partnership
Continuous
Improvement
L-R: Aplix, Inc. Representative; North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper; Aplix, Inc. Representative; John Loyack, EDPNC, VP, Global Business Services; Aplix, Inc. Representative; Phil Mintz, Executive Director Industry Expansion Solutions and North Carolina Manufacturing Extension Partnership
Economic
Development
L-R: John Loyack, EDPNC, VP, Global Business Services; North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper; Exela Pharma Sciences, LLC Representatives; Phil Mintz, Executive Director Industry Expansion Solutions and North Carolina Manufacturing Extension Partnership
Winston-Salem, NC – The North Carolina Manufacturing Extension Partnership (NCMEP), a public-private operating alliance working to help manufacturing companies become operationally efficient and well positioned to grow profitably, today announced the winners of its 2017 North Carolina Manufacturing Leadership Awards at MFGCON in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. The NCMEP awards program recognizes manufacturers for their commitment to the North Carolina manufacturing sector, as proven by outstanding performance in the areas of Innovation, Sustainable Manufacturing, Advanced Talent Development, Developing Markets and Continuous Improvement.
“Our state’s manufacturers continue to expand and excel in performance, leading to sustained customer satisfaction. It is important that we continue to nurture and recognize the contributions of smaller plants as they lead the way in manufacturing growth and innovation throughout North Carolina.”
– Phil Mintz, NCMEP Director and Executive Director, NC State Industry Expansion Solutions (IES)
The winners of the 2017 Manufacturing Leadership Awards include:
Leadership in Manufacturing Excellence
Eaton Corporation
Roxboro’s Eaton Corporation demonstrated exemplary practices across all areas of manufacturing, earning the organization the Manufacturing Excellence Award.
Eaton produces complex and highly engineered products that require special competencies and experience; to keep those skilled jobs in Person County rather than outsourcing them, Eaton partners with “Tooling U” and Piedmont Community College to train employees for on-the-job, technical and leadership development. Additionally, a paid education incentive is offered to all employees for university education.
Several of the company’s employees have recently won patents on new engineering designs, including one that enhances fuel economy. By effectively managing power to reduce fuel consumption, emissions are cut, leading to more sustainable outcomes. The company has been active in pursuing sustainability within its own walls as well; from 2014-16 Eaton reduced its water consumption by 50 percent, or seven million gallons; 2017 Eaton Roxboro became a Zero Waste to landfill site.
Eliminating wasted time, labor and resources has also been an area of focus for Eaton Roxboro. The company employs a Six Sigma approach to control process variation, Focus Factory teams to drive specific improvements by product lines, and Rapid Improvement Events bi-monthly.
Eaton Roxboro is a credit to its community, with a $20M annual payroll for its 290 full time and 120 contract employees. The company is a consistent top contributor to the local United Way, and gives generously to schools, theaters, libraries and help centers in its area.
Leadership in Sustainable Manufacturing
Mirimichi Green
When one thinks of “sustainability,” golf courses are not the first thing that come to mind. But when Memphis’ Mirimichi golf course was redesigned in 2009, its new owner was determined to make it both public and green; the course was redesigned to feature native landscapes and offer wildlife habitat connectivity and environmental education. It was also the first golf course to receive Audubon Classic Sanctuary Certification. After Mirimichi’s success, Mirimichi Green was formed in 2011 near Wilmington, NC to manufacture, sell and distribute an entire product line of sustainable soil and turf enhancers and weed and plant control products. Mirimichi Green’s products are designed to offer a bridge to more responsible landscaping methods, and to help consumers set reasonable goals for their own sustainable practices.
Leadership in Workforce Development
Fairystone Fabrics Inc.
Fairystone Fabrics manufactures textiles for automotive, military and other applications. Fairystone fabrics, (along with six neighboring manufacturers, Alamance Community College and the Alamance-Burlington school district) is a founding member of the Career Accelerator Program, a high school internship program designed to train the next generation of manufacturers in mechatronics or mechanical/electrical/robotics. The same partners co-sponsor Employee Development classes at Alamance Community College. Fairystone Fabrics even started Fairystone University, in-house, to ensure that employees can access training within the organization. Within the company, there is an emphasis on training to promote to jobs that require more skill and reward with better pay. Fairystone has promoted two employees to Lead Trainer roles and plans to add another.
Leadership in Innovative Practice
Core Technology Molding Corporation
Core Technology is a plastic injection molding company that serves customers in the automotive, medical, appliance, heavy truck, consumer goods and gaming sectors. In 2016, Core Technology designed a new injection molding process that incorporated automation and auxiliary injection units, only to discover that not a single machine manufacturer could supply them with the equipment in the format that they required. Core Technology made a large investment in the necessary machinery and set it up themselves. As a result of its innovative new manufacturing process, Core Technology has captured a significant share of the market for gaming thumbsticks, producing one million every year for Sony Playstation 4, Microsoft Xbox One and Nintendo Switch.
Leadership in Continuous Improvement
Aplix, Inc.
Aplix manufactures hook and loop fastening systems for aircraft, automotive, industrial, medical and hygiene applications, and attributes much of its success to wholehearted dedication to continuous improvement. The company pursued and was awarded initial ISO/QS 9000 certification in 1998, and added two British Retail Consortium certifications that allowed Aplix rapid entry into a new overseas market. Over the past 15 years, Aplix has quadrupled sales with only a 15 percent increase in personnel, and over the past five years has lowered overall manufacturing costs by $692,000, on average, per year. Aplix is an aggressive user of 5S workplace organization and a leader in the use of 8D problem solving and Kaizen improvement methodologies, and currently has more than 30 process improvement projects underway at its two Charlotte-area manufacturing facilities.
Leadership in Economic Development
Exela Pharma Sciences, LLC
Exela takes great pride in the 19 high quality, sterile injectable pharmaceutical products that it manufactures in its state-of-the-art Lenoir laboratories. Its life-saving pharmaceutical products are used to control blood pressure during surgery, to seal heart valve defects in neonatal premature babies and to fight infection in severely immunocompromised patients, to name just a few applications. Exela began its Lenoir operations 10 years ago with a handful of employees in a 5000-square foot building. The local unemployment rate was 17 percent. Fast forward to 2017: the company now includes manufacturing space, a 140,000-square foot corporate headquarters and 153,000 square feet of warehousing facilities; the company is currently undertaking a $25 million renovation of an 86,000-square foot industrial building that will serve as its most advanced manufacturing facility. Exela has 250 employees whose average wages are 40 percent higher than the average for the county.
Click here to see photos of all the award winners.
Manufacturing
Excellence
L-R: Phil Mintz, Executive Director Industry Expansion Solutions and North Carolina Manufacturing Extension Partnership; Sierra Nevada Representative; John E. Skvarla, III, Secretary of the North Carolina Department of Commerce
Sustainable
Manufacturing
The Bark House at
Highland Craftsman
L-R: John Loyack, EDPNC, VP, Global Business Services; Phil Mintz, Executive Director Industry Expansion Solutions and North Carolina Manufacturing Extension Partnership; The Bark House at Highland Craftsman Representative; John E. Skvarla, III, Secretary of the North Carolina Department of Commerce
Workforce
Development
L-R: Service Thread Representatives; Phil Mintz, Executive Director Industry Expansion Solutions and North Carolina Manufacturing Extension Partnership; Service Thread Representatives; John E. Skvarla, III, Secretary of the North Carolina Department of Commerce
Continuous
Improvement
L-R: Mitch Poteat, Regional Manager, Research Triangle; Phil Mintz, Executive Director Industry Expansion Solutions and North Carolina Manufacturing Extension Partnership; Flex Representatives; John E. Skvarla, III, Secretary of the North Carolina Department of Commerce
Economic
Development
L-R: John Loyack, EDPNC, VP, Global Business Services; Associated Hardwoods Representatives; Phil Mintz, Executive Director Industry Expansion Solutions and North Carolina Manufacturing Extension Partnership; John E. Skvarla, III, Secretary of the North Carolina Department of Commerce
Greensboro, NC – The North Carolina Manufacturing Extension Partnership (NCMEP), a public-private operating alliance working to help manufacturing companies become operationally efficient and well positioned to grow profitably, today announced the winners of its 2016 North Carolina Manufacturing Leadership Awards at MFGCON in Greensboro, North Carolina. The state awards program recognizes manufacturers for their commitment to the North Carolina manufacturing sector, as proven by outstanding performance.
“NCMEP is thrilled to announce this year’s Manufacturing Leadership Award winners and recognize our outstanding ecosystem of manufacturers across the state. This program recognizes manufacturing organizations that have demonstrated excellence in creating exceptional results in developing markets, continuous improvement, innovative technologies, advanced talent management or sustainable manufacturing. As we continue to grow this program, we look for deployed solutions that solve unique business problems through effective, innovative expansion programs or initiatives.”
– Phil Mintz, NCMEP Director and Executive Director, NC State Industry Expansion Solutions (IES)
The winners of the 2016 Manufacturing Leadership Awards include:
Leadership in Manufacturing Excellence
Sierra Nevada
- Sierra Nevada has brought 400 jobs to the area and has contracted with hundreds of local vendors, haulers and businesses throughout the brewery’s construction and continuing into daily operations.
- Sustainability metrics (energy, water and waste) are tied to each employee’s annual bonus which incentives participation and sustainable behavior and ideas.
- The company’s comprehensive internal training program requires all employees to engage in a minimum of 24 hours of training during the year. Workshops are regularly offered in partnership with Blue Ridge Community College in subjects such as leadership and effective communication.
- The pace and intensity of the company’s innovation strategy can be clearly seen in its weekly “new product meeting,” during which the technical brewing teams, production brewing teams and R&D discuss and brainstorm new ideas and review and evaluate progress on projects already underway.
Leadership in Sustainable Manufacturing
The Bark House at Highland Craftsmen Inc.
The Bark House at Highland Craftsmen Inc. manufactures natural architectural products. Company founder Marty McCurry innovated a use for an unused by-product of the logging industry—tree bark. This company is the original manufacturer of beautiful bark wall coverings for the interiors and exteriors of buildings. Its retail clients include Christian Louboutin, Sherber and Rad, Lululemon, Bass Pro Shops; its products have also been used within Parsons New School for Design, the University of Chicago, national sports arenas, medical centers, and many others. Bark House is the only company to receive 10 “Best for the World” awards from B Corp, a nonprofit third-party certification agency and a PLATINUM level certification from Cradle to Cradle, which measures the sustainability of a product and its manufacturing processes.
Leadership in Workforce Development
Service Thread
Service Thread partners with Richmond Community College, The University of North Carolina at Pembroke and St. Andrews University to help its associates gain higher Career Readiness Certificates, technical degrees, four-year degrees and master’s degrees. Service Thread’s Employee Education Assistance Program pays 100 percent of books and tuition for qualified associates in fields related to the company’s work; in 2015, Service Thread paid over $100,000 in education expenses. Additionally, the company has developed a wellness initiative with Scotland Occupational Health and the local Family Fitness Center which is now in its tenth year; this program gives all employees access to healthcare, nutrition and fitness opportunities.
Leadership in Continuous Improvement
Flex
Flex is a recognized leader with deep expertise in global manufacturing across virtually every industry. Over the past year, Flex demonstrated annual savings of more than $212k related to continuous improvement activity. Flex had 5 kaizens and 30 small group activities, with a total of 189 participants; the activities spanned the entire organization, from operations and supply chain areas to offices. Just a few of the organization’s major accomplishments over the past year include the introduction of a conveyor to reduce material handling and operator travel distance; automated Storyboard/Production boards to improve the visual factory for the operations area; and web cameras to reduce operator data entry time. Thirteen percent of Flex personnel are now Lean Green Belt certified.
Leadership in Economic Development
Associated Hardwoods
Associated Hardwoods has been a fixture in the wood products industry since its inception. Family-owned and operated, the company has made it a priority to look after the company family, preserving jobs during tough economic times with its re-invention of products and adoption of new technologies, leading to dramatically increased yields and subsequent expansions. The company’s current expansion may create as many as 50 new jobs over the next two years alone, based on the company’s ability to double production through technology advancements.
Manufacturing
Excellence
Keihin Carolina System Technology
L-R: Phil Mintz, Executive Director Industry Expansion Solutions and North Carolina Manufacturing Extension Partnership; David Catt, Keihin Carolina System Technology (now Hitachi Astemo, LTD); John E. Skvarla, III, Secretary of the North Carolina Department of Commerce
Sustainable
Manufacturing
Ann’s House – (Did Not Attend)
L-R: Phil Mintz, Executive Director Industry Expansion Solutions and North Carolina Manufacturing Extension Partnership; John E. Skvarla, III, Secretary of the North Carolina Department of Commerce; Kimberly Conley, North Carolina State University Industry Expansion Solutions
Workforce
Development
L-R: Phil Mintz, Executive Director Industry Expansion Solutions and North Carolina Manufacturing Extension Partnership; John E. Skvarla, III, Secretary of the North Carolina Department of Commerce; PEMMCO Representatives
Innovative
Practice
L-R: Phil Mintz, Executive Director Industry Expansion Solutions and North Carolina Manufacturing Extension Partnership; John E. Skvarla, III, Secretary of the North Carolina Department of Commerce; AEG International Representative; Cheryl Smith, NCSU IES Regional Manager
Continuous
Improvement
L-R: Phil Mintz, Executive Director Industry Expansion Solutions and North Carolina Manufacturing Extension Partnership; John E. Skvarla, III, Secretary of the North Carolina Department of Commerce; Fiberon Representatives; Don Honeycutt, Rowan Cabarrus Community College (now the Regional Customized Training, Director)
Economic
Development
L-R: Phil Mintz, Executive Director Industry Expansion Solutions and North Carolina Manufacturing Extension Partnership; John E. Skvarla, III, Secretary of the North Carolina Department of Commerce; GE Aviation Representative; John Loyack, EDPNC, VP, Global Business Services
Raleigh, NC – The North Carolina Manufacturing Extension Partnership (NCMEP) is pleased to announce the inaugural winners of the 2015 North Carolina Manufacturing Leadership Awards.
The recipients have proven that business can succeed and thrive in any climate, under any conditions, and can bring prosperity to their communities as well. We congratulate the winners and are honored to share their achievements here.
The winners of the 2015 Manufacturing Leadership Awards include:
Leadership in Manufacturing Excellence
Keihin Carolina System Technology
This company excelled across all five areas of leadership. KCST works closely with the community college system to develop curriculums for workforce education, specialized training and Work Keys testing; provides internships and financial support to East Carolina University and a tuition program to qualified employees; uses a Balanced Scorecard to align activities to strategic objectives; and is zero waste to landfill, ISO14001 & ISO 50001 certified. KCST delivers market-leading value through application of, and dedication to, the highest standards for product quality, delivery, precision, flexibility and customer satisfaction.
Leadership in Sustainable Manufacturing
Ann’s House – (Did Not Attend)
This company’s commitment to sustainable practices is truly exemplary. Ann’s House is working to reduce fat, oil and grease (FOG) content in wastewater, and has achieved annual cost savings of $120,000 through energy efficiency measures. The process improvements that they have implemented in support of sustainability have allowed Ann’s House to re-invest $3.7 million back into the company.
Leadership in Workforce Development
PEMMCO
PEMMCO has shown exemplary commitment to closing the skills gap and creating opportunities for the citizens of Randolph County. The company has partnered with Randolph Community College, Asheboro City School and Randolph County Schools to expose high school and middle school students to modern manufacturing. In addition, to further strengthen the talent pipeline for their company and create meaningful opportunities for the next generation of manufacturers, PEMMCO is partnering with RCC to develop a registered apprenticeship program.
Leadership in Innovative Practice
AEG International
For AEG, innovation transcends novelty—the company’s products are truly life changing for people in Nigeria, who sometimes walk for four hours in one direction to find electricity to charge their smartphones. AEG’s Firefly—a device that provides twelve hours of light and mobile device charging, at a price affordable to the common person—makes information and communication more accessible to more people.
Leadership in Continuous Improvement
Fiberon
In cooperation with Stanly Community College, Fiberon requested and received Six Sigma DMAIC Cycle Training for 13 of its employees. A Customized Training program was created, which included Green Belt training. As a result of the training, four projects were presented to upper management for review: Reducing Streaker Changeover Time, Reducing Packaging Excess, Reducing Cut Length Variation and Reducing Production Downtime. The annualized cost reduction for these four projects totaled $877,419.
Leadership in Economic Development
GE Aviation
GE Aviation expanded in a county that had an unemployment rate of 8% and a poverty rate of 20%. The expansion had a major impact on the growth of the county, adding more than 100 jobs to a rural community over a 2-year period. The company also added to the county tax base by investing $110M at the facility, bring the company’s total investment to more than $150M since 2008. The company’s presence is attracting suppliers to the area as well; new suppliers are expected to contribute an additional 30 jobs to the county over the next year.
Email: info@ncmep.org
Phone: 919.513.6119
Technology, Training and Resources
ies.ncsu.edu
919.515.2358
1005 Capability Drive, Raleigh, NC 27606
Profile
New and Existing Business Development
edpnc.com
919.447.7777
150 Fayetteville St., Ste 1200, Raleigh, NC 27601
Profile
Polymers Research and Development
polymers-center.org
704.602.4100
8900 Research Dr., Charlotte, NC 28262
Profile
Textile and Furniture Business Development
manufacturingsolutionscenter.org
828.327.7000
301 Conover Station SE, Conover, NC 28613
Profile
Customized Workforce Training
nccommunitycolleges.edu
919.807.7100
200 W. Jones St., Raleigh, NC 27603
Profile
Product Development and Prototyping
ffvcnc.org/hangar6
919.990.8558
2 Davis Drive, Durham, NC 277023
Profile
Research, Development and Consulting
isl.charlotte.edu
704.687.5029
8414 Phillips Rd, Charlotte, NC 28223
Profile
Textile Prototyping and Development
textiles.ncsu.edu
919.515.6640
1020 Main Campus Dr., Raleigh, NC 27606
Profile