West Michigan’s Manufacturers Council Celebrates 30 YEARS of Collaboration,
W hen The Right Place, Inc. and a small group of local companies formed theManufacturers Council in 1989, they united under a banner of collaboration and mutual trust. Now, 30 years later, The Right Place | TheMichigan ManufacturingTechnologyCenter–West’s Manufacturers Council serves as a vast repository of industry knowledge and a cornerstone of the manufacturing sector in the region. Yet, despite its growthover the years, the council still retains its mission of encouraging collaboration and sharing best practices between manufacturers in West Michigan. “That a council has existed like this for 30 years and that leadership is engaged at a high level frommajor to small companies is highly unusual,” said Birgit Klohs, President andCEOof TheRight Place,which facilitates the Manufacturers Council. “It’s not an association, it’s a group of like-minded collaborative individuals who want to share whattheyknowwithothers. I think itspeaks toWestMichiganand howwework together.” Klohs also served as one of the founders of the Manufacturers Council, helping to breathe life and structure into the organization in 1989. Since then, the council has expanded to include numerous members of varying industries, who meet regularly and candidly discuss everything from best practices, to business challenges and trends. Every other month, the group embarks on an open door plant tour of another member’s facility, where they witness production processes and other key initiatives live. “TheManufacturers Council brings together a group of manufacturers from the area and creates a forum for them where they can talk about issues that are affecting their companies,” said David Beemer, the newly appointed president of the Manufacturers Council, who also serves as the COO of TerryBerry. “What’s really refreshing from a membership standpoint is access to other people facing similar challenges and the collaborative nature that group takes to sharing that information.” "While it may seem strange to some companies, members of the council are not concerned with discussing the ins and outs of their organizations with peers," Beemer said. Even though the council contains direct competitors, those competitors can often come together and collaborate under the banner of mutual benefit.
Innovation, & Progress
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MANUFACTURERS COUNCIL 30TH ANNIVERSARY
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