MiMfg Magazine April 2017 | Page 12

12 MiMfg Magazine April 2017 opportunities to managing our daily operations. We also remain active with the Michigan Municipal League, Michigan Township Association, Michigan Green Schools, Michigan Recycling Coalition, MParks and others who help promote us as a Michigan manufacturer. Q: What are some of the challenges of being a small, medium or large company? Dick Sarns: For us, a company built on serving an aging population, we’re finding it hard to keep up with the demand. With the baby boomer generation reaching retirement age, the market for our products is growing faster than we are. 10,000 people turn 65 each day in our country and there are “ We believe manufacturing is the lifeblood of our nation, and we are fortunate to be part of a state with a legacy of manufacturing excellence. Together, everyone achieves more. ” — Daryl Adams Spartan Motors rising challenges with people facing obesity, heart disease, Alzheimer’s and other illnesses that reduce activity and quality of life. period of growth and success because we’ve created a culture that celebrates new ideas, new technologies, and is comfortable with the concept of change. Chris Waltz: As you grow and diversify Sandra Anson: As a small manufacturer your product line, you need more employees, new divisions, expanded facilities — these are things that don’t just pop out of thin air. Growing your business can be great, but it creates that added struggle to find the right person, the right fit for your culture. Steve Cooper: Our biggest challenge is labor. Michigan’s success in recent years really is a double-edged sword. When unemployment was at 14 percent, you could have a job fair to fill 60 positions and see 1,000 people turn out — yet the best workers, the ones we wanted most, were leaving the state. Now, unemploy- ment is at 5 percent and people are stay- ing in-state. The problem is now a lot of the workers seeking employment don’t have the necessary skills. Daryl Adams: Regardless of scale or industry, most manufacturing organizations struggle with the concept of change — whether it’s a new policy, new procedures, or industry influences outside of your control. Spartan is enjoying an exceptional with somewhat limited resources, deciding where to best spend money. Equipment always comes before advertising which means marketing to the right demographics is a challenge. We’ve also begun to outgrow our building, which impacts our ability to keep up with demand. It’s also a challenge to compete with other local manufacturers or larger companies with deeper pockets on areas like benefits. Q: How would you characterize the advantages of being a small, medium or large company? Dan Craig: We are able to stay focused, quickly improve processes, implement innovations faster, are able to be flexible and our employees are more likely to be cross-trained. Chris Waltz: For manufacturers, purchasing power can be very valuable. Larger companies are also more likely to have their brand well-known and a good reputation can speed up a company’s Spartan Motors Daryl Adams Location Charlotte Business Type Manufacturer of specialty vehicles Attribute for Success Desire to exceed customer expectations Self-Classification Large Daryl Adams talks with a member of his dedicated staff in front of Spartan’s world-class emergency vehicles as they are assembled.