Glen Raven
Burlington
May 16, 2012 1:30 - 4:30 pm
Daimler Trucks
Mount Holly
June 26, 2012
1:30 - 4:30 pm
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"We enjoyed the affair and were surprised at the diversity of the manufacturers from across the state.Since the first meeting, we are now doing business with Flextronics' in Charlotte, NC. This is the start of a good thing."
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Asheville (September 27, 2011) - Nearly 100 attendees mixed and mingled on a gorgeous fall day at NC State's fifth Manufacturing Makes It Real Network event. Manufacturers traded stories, shared best practices, and experienced the depth and breadth of manufacturing in western North Carolina. Hosted by Industries for the Blind (IFB) Asheville Division, the event also included a plant tour where small groups observed more than 50 visually impaired or blind employees performing cut and sew operations and other tasks.
The gathering started on a patriotic note with a beautiful a cappella rendition of the national anthem performed by Kim West, a legally blind IFB employee, as the standing-room only crowd stood with hands over hearts. West's title at IFB is Director of First Impressions-all agreed that she made an amazing first impression!
NC State Industrial Extension Service (IES) Executive Director Terri Helmlinger Ratcliff welcomed the crowd, noting that a year ago that day IES began the Manufacturing Makes It Real tour across the state. "That tour spawned this network, we want to continue to highlight and celebrate manufacturing in North Carolina by giving all manufacturers a place to come together to share issues and common areas," she said.
Randy Buckner, Director of Operations for IFB Asheville, also welcomed the attendees and talked about Industries for the Blind's mission. He noted that 75 percent of his direct labor was legally blind or blind employees, and said that some 85 percent of those employees were unemployable before taking their current jobs. IFB Asheville makes all the poncho liners for the US military, and also makes flyer's kit bags, staplers, and other products.
The event included almost 30 manufacturers who took part in the "manufacturers' spotlight," proudly showing products and talking about their companies. The products included concrete, precision cut machine tools, beekeeping equipment, a new packaging product, copper garden art, wiper products, round homes, parts for aircraft engines, hotel and gift key cards, and open coil heaters.
Many of the presenting manufacturers said that business was growing, and that manufacturing business was coming back from overseas due to better automation and higher quality components.
Terry Collins with GE Lighting in Hendersonville manufactures lighting fixtures. "The overhead lights in the parking lot outside are our fixtures," he said. "We have 450 employees in our Hendersonville location and we're hiring. We're bullish on the future, especially with LED lighting becoming more available-it's twice the light at half the cost."
Jeremy Carter of PLI (Plasticard-Locktech International), the world's leading keycard manufacturer, told the crowd that sales were strong, and said they had experienced record sales each month in 2011. PLI was founded in 1988 by a retiree telemarketing hotel keycards from his basement office in Asheville, NC.
After the manufacturers' presentations, attendees were treated to a tour of the IFB facility; many expressed their respect for the level of skill demonstrated by IFB employees, and the strong evidence of lean manufacturing processes.
"I was really impressed by the work these people do, both professionally and personally. Watching these employees work, I realized that I really don't have any problems, and I was inspired by them all," said Wayne Brothers' Shannon Sapp.
Manufacturing Makes It Real Network background
The Manufacturing Makes It Real Network is a project of the Industrial Extension Service at North Carolina State University for the purpose of promoting Made in North Carolina products. IES has worked since 1955 to advance manufacturing in North Carolina. Since 2000, IES has provided more than $2 billion of value to the state's manufacturers, and created or retained more than 5,000 jobs.
The network was designed to promote a positive image of manufacturing, connecting manufacturers and those who support them and providing access to university resources to help build a stronger, more competitive base of industry in the state. The network is supported by manufacturers who join as members and receive promotional benefits and easy access to IES expertise.
The Manufacturing Makes It Real Network charter members:
NC State University Industrial Extension Service
Phone 1-800-227-0264
