Most people
don’t see manufacturing for the rich and complex industry it is. They hear the
word “manufacturing” and they think first of the global giants; the companies
that employ thousands of people and make exciting end products — the household
brands. But for every large corporation, hundreds of small manufacturers dot
the landscape of Michigan. These businesses do what they do each day with little
fanfare or recognition.
Based in
Fenton, Epic Machine, Inc. is one such manufacturer; quietly celebrating 40
years as a manufacturer of replacement components and tooling for the foundry
industry, with a diverse base of more than 200 customers. They are in the shadows
of an industry sector that itself is in the background. Epic Machine is
multiple degrees of separation away from public notoriety; yet they are
thriving, growing and innovating.
“Most people
don’t know we’re here and trying to explain who we are and what we do can be
difficult,” said Bill Johnston, comptroller for Epic Machine. “Downtime can
destroy a business. If your production is offline for a weekend, a day, even a
couple of hours, it can mean the difference between hitting your goals and
keeping a customer or missing your goals and seeing them go to your competition.”
Even while playing
such an important role, manufacturing is itself forcing companies like Epic to
change and reimagine where they fit in an increasingly high-tech, high-demand
and global industry.
“You have to
diversify. It’s not even a question anymore. Things are moving too fast and
there are fewer and fewer businesses that do what we do,” explained Johnston. “At
some point, we’ll face another bump in the economy — you really need to have a
fallback against one major customer or industry having a problem and your
business being a victim of it. You have to open yourself up to doing more than
you thought you could.”
At Epic,
they’ve worked to be more openminded about the possibilities for growth that
are out there. They seek out existing businesses and take on projects that
could push them outside their comfort zone.
“It’s important
that you take a shot at doing something new. Small businesses can disappear
because of one or two bad quarters, so if you aren’t trying something because
it’s unfamiliar, you are leaving yourself open to a lot of risk,” Johnston
said. “You don’t need to take on every new client, but make expanding your
knowledge base and your customer base a priority. It can add decades to your
business.”
Johnston and
his team continue to look ahead to the company’s next milestone — their 50-year
anniversary. To get there, they’ll continue with diversification strategies and
move forward with plans to bring in new, tech-savvy talent and invest in new
technology and upgraded equipment. Change is inevitable for manufacturers and
the small business needs to advance even faster.
“We may not be
the biggest company but we have four decades of history behind us and you’d be
surprised how reliant our world is on having small parts and replacement parts
on hand when they are needed,” said Johnston. “Epic Machine is a hard-working
business, founded in humility and making a quality part. Come and get to know
us.”
