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WNC Business

WNC's manufacturing industry programs encouraging success

Feb 16, 2023 04:00PM ● By Randee Brown

The Economic Development Coalition of Asheville-Buncombe County developed The 5X5 Strategic Plan to advance the local manufacturing industry. The AVL 5x5 Strategic Plan prioritizes the work of existing industry retention and expansion in Buncombe County. These activities strengthen local operations, cultivate regional workforce, attract sustainable investment in the tax base of local government and better position the community for economic growth. 

Scheduled throughout the calendar year, the following programs promote workforce development, sustainability, efficiency, and the sharing of best industry practices through peer-to-peer connection. The EDC partners with local business leaders, plant managers, human resources professionals and a robust group of industry advocates to streamline and coordinate the delivery of services to meet employer needs.

*Sustainability Council – Operations personnel from local manufacturers in Buncombe County meet quarterly to tour peer facilities and learn about their operations. It is a way for operations managers to network with each other and see what other manufacturers are doing to improve company culture, employee engagement, productivity and continuous improvement, profitability, and environmental stewardship. 

*Industry Leaders & Influencers – The EDC’s Industry Leaders and Influencers group includes CEOs, plant managers, and founders of local manufacturing, headquartered, and high-growth startup companies in Buncombe County. 

*Manufacturing Mornings – Manufacturing Mornings is a quarterly before-hours Chamber member event hosted at different Buncombe County manufacturing locations targeting leaders in business, workforce development, and government interested in learning more about the renaissance in American Manufacturing that is driving growth in the Asheville Metro Economy.

At the December Manufacturing Mornings event, Systems Logistics Corp. hosted area leaders to share an announcement of expansion of the Arden location which will bring an additional 40 jobs to the region and $8 million to the local economy. This company supplies equipment and software for warehouse storage and distribution.

Stephano Vitale, President and Chief Executive Officer of Systems Logistics, shared that the company employs 220 people in North America, with 172 of those in Arden. “We have many engineers here,” Vitale said. The WNC facility brought a 2021 revenue of $110 million, 30 percent of the global revenue for the company. Vitale also shared new plans for expansion in WNC. “Labor at the Mexico facility is less expensive, but we decided that our new expansion should be here because we consider this the right place to grow and do this investing,” Vitale said. “We hope to have it up and running by the end of 2023.” 

*WNC Career Expo – Twice a year, in collaboration with the Mountain Area Workforce Development Board, the Economic Development Coalition hosts the largest regional hiring event in WNC. Organizations in growth industries, such as advanced manufacturing, technology, health care, hospitality, and professional services across the Asheville Metro are welcomed to participate. The WNC Career Expo is free for the public to attend. Additionally, every spring, the EDC collaborates with area school districts to bring hundreds of high school students to the WNC Career Expo for an interactive and exclusive opportunity to meet with employers.

*Manufacturing Day – Held annually on the first Friday in October, Manufacturing Day is a nationwide movement to show the reality of modern manufacturing careers by encouraging companies and educational institutions to open their doors to students, parents, teachers, and community leaders. Locally, the EDC organizes the Buncombe County MFG Day for students, manufacturing partners, and education partners on site at a local manufacturing company to celebrate manufacturing excellence and workforce development.