Alotech and 3M, two Chatham County-based companies, are winners of the 2019 Manufacturing Leadership Awards. Given by the North Carolina Manufacturing Extension Partnership (NCMEP), the awards recognize companies from across the state that are outstanding leaders in the fields of manufacturing excellence, sustainable manufacturing, innovation, workforce development, economic development/developing markets, and continuous improvement.

Alotech is a contract manufacturer located in Goldston that provides re-manufacturing prototyping and product development services and invest in companies seeking to expand and improve their processes. Alotech won in the innovation category for their success in custom manufacturing solutions that, in one case, helped reduce the labor time by 80 hours a week and OSHA injuries from 15 to zero. 

3M has a plant in Pittsboro that manufactures the granular material found in roofing shingles. 3M was the winner in the workforce development category for their three-fold approach that is technical, strategic and cultural. 3M offers maintenance apprenticeships and partnerships with experienced 3M employees to help students and the company to cultivate a relationship that may continue past graduation and develop into a career. 3M builds its culture around training and supporting all new hires in all stages of their careers.

The awards were announced at MFGcon, which is NCMEP’s convention that gathers manufacturing industry leaders from throughout North Carolina. The EDC is proud to work with companies like Alotech and 3M, and we are grateful for the recognition of their efforts here in Chatham County.

Learn more about MFGcon, the North Carolina Manufacturing Extension Partnership, and the Manufacturing Leadership Awards by clicking here.

From left to right: Kenny Flowers, NC Department of Commerce Assistant Secretary for Rural Economic Development, Bill Murray, CEO. of Alotech’s Partner Company CTI Systems, Tommy Kirk, Alotech COO, and Phil Mintz, NC State IES Executive Director.

From left to right: Kenny Flowers, NC Department of Commerce Assistant Secretary for Rural Economic Development, Phil Mintz, NC State IES Director, Chuck Jarrell, 3M Plant Engineering Manager, and Garry Krontz, SIC Maintenance Leader.