John M . Williams , the president and owner of Qual-Fab in South Seattle , is not just a numbers guy . His unique business approach , combining a strong focus on the bottom line with a deep compassion for employees and customers , sets him apart in the industry .
Williams , the current owner and operator , is the living embodiment of Qual-Fab ’ s legacy , a legacy that was started by his father , John F . Williams , who founded the company in 1977 . He said that early on , “ My father ran a poverty-level business ; everything he made went back into the business ,” Williams fondly recalls . The elder Williams , who sadly passed away in June 2024 , had worked in the business for decades .
36 NORTHWEST AEROSPACE NEWS
Between father and son , they built a strong business and have employed many people for over 47 years . Before COVID-19 , Qual – Fab employed over 95 employees , shipping anywhere from 80,000 to 100,000-piece parts monthly throughout the Pacific Northwest and Western United States . But like most businesses , Qual-Fab has had its fair share of challenges . This story is not just about numbers and metrics ; it ’ s about the perseverance and character of Northwest manufacturing , with life lessons learned out of necessity .
Williams said they pride themselves on high-quality production metrics , such as 99.9 percent first-pass yield and ontime delivery metrics .
“ The way we market our company is we are in a South-end industrial complex . You can ’ t tell what we do from the outside . Still , when you walk in , you see a flurry of activity and a significant capital investment – machines , materials , and personnel making parts in a world-class manufacturing facility .” He said they take new customers through the business to see the workgroup flow in person from start to finish . Prospective customers are taken through how a part is made in every process phase to completion . They are shown how a part progresses through each phase of fabrication and how the quality phase is applied . Every major operation undergoes process , sampling , and quality inspection while an inspector is still roving and sampling inspection .