Rieter Automotive Canadian Carpet, London, Ont., Canada
Employees: 160 (Canadian Autoworkers Union)
Total Square Footage: 150,000
Primary Product/market: automotive carpet
Start-up: 2001
Achievements: Ford Q1; ISO 14001 and TS16949 certified; 1.5 days of finished goods inventory (down from 3 days in 2005); significant contributor to Rieter's achievement of the GM Supplier of the Year award for the past four years
Every road to excellence begins somewhere. For the Rieter Automotive Canadian Carpet plant in London, Ont., the journey began in 2001 with one automated line and eight employees. Today, the well-lit, 150,000-square-foot factory has six automated and three manual lines, and employs 160 people working across three shifts. The operation has grown as its primary customers -- Ford, Chrysler and General Motors -- have been battling to maintain market share.
"We are in a unique position, bringing in business in a more bleak local outlook," acknowledges Bert Briley, who works in shipping and receiving on the first shift. He is also the site chairperson for the Canadian
Autoworkers Union. Situated on an automotive corridor that stretches across southern Ontario, management attributes the factory's success to its location, technology and dedicated employees. "We all have to bring our A game," confirms Briley.
View article on one page