bit more subtle. For instance, CTECH
Manufacturing in Weston, Wis., is like
Chirch Global in that it does perform
metal fabrication. But unlike Chirch,
it has automated cutting and panel
bending that can fabricate large
workpieces extremely quickly, efficient for products like storage cabinets, including its major product line
of portable tool drawers used in the
racing industry.
“They’re very complementary to
us,” Chirchirillo said. “They have a waterjet, they have panel bending. And
we work together on projects where
it makes the most sense.”
A Collaborative Group
The network of firms employs 1,400
people working in 1 million square
feet of manufacturing space and has
an annual revenue of about $225
million. Individually, each company
is much smaller. But as Chirchirillo
explained, as a network, they can act
big. For instance, the group contracts
out as one entity to an electrical and
facilities maintenance firm.
But the network wasn’t formed
to be a buying group. Instead, it was
formed to allow member companies
to tackle work that they otherwise
couldn’t. Company owners meet
quarterly to discuss the current state
of business and future opportunities.
To coordinate daily, everyone in the
network—management, sales, engi-
neering, and operations—commu-
nicates using a web-based platform.
Quality and sales teams from all
companies meet regularly to discuss
potential collaborations. And there
is one nondisclosure agreement that
covers every company in the net-
work.
In the contract metal manufacturing world, a sales engineer works with
his estimating team to bid on a project. If they win, engineering works
with the drawing files, material is
ordered, machined components are
subcontracted, and away the fabricator goes.
A salesperson for the Chirch Global Manufacturing Network handles
a potential order a little differently.
Say a sales engineer finishes talking
with a company that’s launching a
new machine design. That machine
has some parts that may be best produced with sheet metal, while other
elements require precision machining, castings, and tubular parts. Still
other parts require plastic components, electromechanical assembly,
and powder coating.
That salesperson could recommend the design resources of Sterling
Engineering and collaborate with the
sales staff at Telefonix for the cable
and electromechanical assembly;
C&L Supreme for the machined components; Chicago White Metal for
the castings; Pereles Bros. for the plastic injection molding; Chirch Global
Manufacturing for the fabrication;
MP Metal Products for the roll form-
The network of
firms employs
1,400 people
working in 1 million
square feet of
manufacturing space
and has an annual
revenue of about
$225 million.
Individually, each
company is much
smaller, but as a
network, they can
act big.
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