Also, take time to checkout our JibJab Elf videos which are listed below.  Just click on links.  Thanks to a great bunch of elves, we were able to create three different videos.  We really do have a fun bunch of guys & gals!

Trim the Tree!                   The Workplace!                   Snowball Fight!

Just a forewarning that you will see more of these guys and gals next year along with more about our company, who we are, what we do, and how we can be of help.  Also, there are a few of us still missing from this small clip.  Hopefully, we will be able to remedy that within the next few weeks.  One more thing, if you haven’t visited us on our Facebook page and clicked on “Like”, please take time to do so.  In that way, we will get Facebook to promote our page and show we want to have a presence in the FB World.  See ya in 2012!

Thanksgiving Day, which began on U.S. soil in the 1600’s (various accounts are appearing on the web that suggest the first Thanksgiving was celebrated before the landing of the Pilgrims at Plymouth Rock), and was made a national holiday by Abraham Lincoln in 1863, is just a day away. Sadly, the holiday itself appears to be fading behind the commercialism of Christmas, which this year seemed to begin even before the Trick or Treaters ever set off on their candy pilgrimage. I can only hope and yes, Pray, that the gathering of family and friends, and the expression of blessings and thanks will not and should not be totally forgotten. Even in difficult times as these.

As a country, it is a time to reflect upon the empty seat and unused place setting at many a table this Thanksgiving. Our sons, daughters, husbands, wives, brothers, sisters,  grandchildren, and friends serving in our armed services will be deeply missed.  Extreme thanks to all of them for their sacrifice and their committment to protect the lives and freedom for all of us here. 

As a manufacturing company, one who builds machines and makes machine parts, it is still a struggle to maintain the pace which our economy and government set for us. But, here we are after almost 60-years, with our doors still open and product still being manufactured and shipped out. For that, we are thankful.

We are thankful for our customers who have continued to partner with us, coming back for new projects, and for our new customers who have taken a chance with us on a new opportunity. We are extremely thankful for our employees and their continued loyalty through the difficult times as well as the good times. We wish we could extend a longer period of growth and prosperity, but global influences are much too volatile to guarantee that. However, we won’t stop the push to not only keep our doors open, but to gain an extra step now and then.

It is those same employees who were approached a couple of weeks ago about a potential project which was offered to us to quote. The major drawback was that it could mean working through the Thanksgiving holiday weekend. It was done in order to work around our customer’s holiday shutdown and have their machinery up and running when their employees returned to work. [Please note that it is not routine for this company to work holidays except for emergency service calls or to work second/third shifts since the downturn of the economy many years ago]. Our guys said yes, so we proceeded ahead with the quote. The customer accepted our quote and gave us a purchase order. Our guys are ready to put forth the extra time and effort to get the job done. Again, this is a blessing for which pāco manufacturing is thankful, and these thanks are not only to those who are sacrificing their “free” time, but also to their families who will be sacrificing their “family” time during the next few days.

Our building is filled with talent, with consideration, with loyalty…well, boastfully- it is filled with a tremendous, impressive group of people! And yes, we can proudly boast of the machines and parts being “Made in the USA”! And yes, we can be proud to be able to be there for our fellow companies in the states who need something done quickly and done with a respect for quality.

As Thanksgiving Day 2011 approaches, I would like to end this post with a selection from a Thanksgiving poem written by Edgar Albert Guest, who lived from 1881 to 1959:

I like the olden way the best, when relatives were glad
To meet the way they used to do when I was but a lad;
The old home was a rendezvous for all our kith and kin,
And whether living far or near they all came trooping in
With shouts of “Hello, daddy!” as they fairly stormed the place
And made a rush for mother, who would stop to wipe her face
Upon her gingham apron before she kissed them all,
Hugging them proudly to her breast, the grownups and the small.

Then laughter rang throughout the home, and, Oh, the jokes they told;
From Boston, Frank brought new ones, but father sprang the old;
All afternoon we chatted, telling what we hoped to do,
The struggles we were making and the hardships we’d gone through;
We gathered round the fireside. How fast the hours would fly–
It seemed before we’d settled down ’twas time to say good-bye.
Those were the glad Thanksgivings, the old-time families knew
When relatives could still be friends and every heart was true.

[I can’t end this post without expressing what I am also thankful for, which is easy… 26 years ago on this upcoming Thanksgiving Day of November 24th, I gave birth to my son; and five and a half years later around Easter time to my daughter. I can think of no greater blessing the Lord has bestowed on me than that of being a mom. Happy Birthday, Andrew!!!

May all you set aside a few moments to reflect on what you are thankful for, and please feel free to share with us if you like… Happy Thanksgiving to all! ]

or by clicking on this link.

Okay, I can’t end this without adding that we have been busy…

New paco manufacturing tri-fold brochure

Our new business brochure just came off the presses a week ago. It is a tri-fold, a new look, and a combination pictorial and bullet-point presentation of what paco manufacturing is all about. An electronic version is available through our website, but drop us an email or phone call if interested in a copy of the actual “hot-off-the-presses” version.

Have a Great Weekend!!

A sample of a CNC part machined by paco manufacturing

Since 1953, paco manufacturing has partnered with companies to build everything from simple machines to complex, automated systems. But, we are also known for machining parts, whether they are specifically made for machinery or are parts needed for a resale item. However, this capability of ours sometimes becomes lost behind our other capabilities of machine building, designing and manufacturing automated systems, and system controls & design.  Some of our customers have realized this capability and have become repeat customers for not only machine production, but have relied on us to provide an inventory of machine parts for these machines.  We just need to reestablish this service among our other customers and prospects.  To remind everyone with this new video of what paco manufacturing can do for its customers.

[If you have difficulty viewing this new video, please click here]

 paco manufacturing is capable of providing the necessary resource to move a part from prototype to production.  We work with plastics, aluminum, brass, stainless steel and tool steel.  Our customers have access to the latest equipment and production technologies through our experienced staff of engineers, technicians, programmers and production personnel.  We can help improve production schedules, capacity requirements, flexibility of customers’ production facilities, and manpower requirements.  The bottom line is that we understand the needs which result after a machine is built or a new product has been designed. 

If you need a machine built, we are there for you.  Just keep in mind that paco manufacturing is not just a machine maker.  We make parts too!

Business First Interview with Glen Morris on Business Strategies

 Back in May we began the “Behind the Scenes…” segment by featuring our founder, G. Frederick Rexon Sr.  It seems fitting for Glen to be the next interviewee as Mr. Rexon has been Glen’s mentor for most of his career.  Glen has worked for pāco manufacturing for over 47 years, and has had the opportunity to experience many roles within the company:  shop helper, machinist, foreman, draftsman, buyer, salesman, vice president, and president.  This is an accomplishment not afforded to many workers these days due to changing times and opportunities.   It has provided him not only a firm foundation from which to lead, but an understanding of the inner workings of every faction of the company.  But now let’s find out a little bit more about Glen (in his own words):

 v  How long have you been with our company?  I began working after school in February, 1964 as a part-timer.  I became fulltime in August, 1965.

 v  What is your favorite memory here at pāco manufacturing®?  I don’t know that I have one favorite memory, but I would say my favorite “thing” is all the many people that I was able to work with and learn from.

  v  What do you feel sets pāco manufacturing® apart from the competition?   I have to say it’s our employees.  There is a sincere feeling of caring by the employees.  Everyone cares about the job they do and they want the customer to be satisfied.  I think everyone is proud to put their invisible signature on their work.

 v  What are your interests outside the company?  Golf, cooking & most definitely my grandchildren!

Visit to Grand Canyon by Helicopter

 v  What is your favorite restaurant?  What is your favorite dish there?  Unfortunately, my favorite restaurant, Café Metro in Louisville, Kentucky, has closed.  My favorite dish there was the Jaeger Schnitzel, a german dish featuring pork.

 v  What would you consider the best vacation place you ever visited and why?  Las Vegas, because there is always something to do.  Desert golf is quite different too!

 pāco manufacturing has benefited from the meshing of a “Yankee” from New Jersey with a local boy who was not afraid to try his hand at the many roles offered to him.  Glen took those skills he learned to not only better himself, but to help manage the company with an edge like that of an exceptional watchmaker who grasps, down to the smallest gear, the inner workings of that timepiece.  We are fortunate to have both men on our team, along with the many others we will chat with in the future.  Glen will be the first to say that the strength of the company lies in its people working as a team.  You can contact Glen at Linked In by clicking here.

CNC machining of a part

I want to preface this next blog by saying that yes, it’s pretty dry.  Sorry.  However, I do believe in the content.  I actually am pretty happy I work for a company which builds machines.  At times, I get to slip out into the shop and see what our guys are working on, and they are craftsmen.  A little bit of each of them goes into the machine and parts they manufacture.  This past fall I was able to actually become a CNC machine operator for a few weekends (having had in years past many hours of practice running power tools for home restoration projects) , and actually ran some parts for inventory.  It was fascinating (and yes, the “geek” in me tried to understand the machine code on the screen as it related to the operation of the machine during its various stages).  But, I felt this sense of pride… that something I was doing was going to be part of a machine and that it was going to last for a long time, and in turn become part of a process to make something else that was going to last for, well, maybe not as long, but become a durable necessity in our world.  It was a great experience and I gained a better appreciation for the skill and talent of our shop and of our engineers.  You can skip to the little video at the end if you want to see what they are capable of, but I do wish you’d take the time to read this post and better yet, click on the links and read the current events happening in the U.S.  A blog post is nice in that it can be personal, and as I have written before, “Business is Personal.”  This topic brings to mind not only my future, but my children’s future and our grandchildren’s future, so it is very personal.  And remember, I did warn you about the dryness…

U.S. manufacturing has been in the news recently.  President Obama gave a speech on June 8^th which was a call to action for training and development of workers within the manufacturing sector of the US.  As noted by the White House, “Preparing Americans to enter into the manufacturing sector will not only strengthen the economy and put Americans back to work, it’s critical to our nation’s success as we compete in a 21^st-century global economy.”  From a manufacturer’s point of view, it reads well when it affirms the need to build a workforce to compete with companies around the world.  The speech commends the manufacturing sector as being the lifeblood of the American economy; of being critical to the continued innovation of products and services through its private sector research and development processes; and for being a stable employer in communities across America.  There is a tremendous need to educate, train and develop the skillset of our next generation, and not completely lose the edge the U.S. held in the past.

Back in May, an analysis by The Boston Consulting Group, was released stating that the rise in China’s labor cost could see a “Manufacturing Renaissance” within the United States, particularly within certain states.  It was an uplifting article as it stated, “We expect net labor costs for manufacturing in China and the U.S. to converge by around 2015.  As a result of the changing economics, you’re going to see a lot more products ‘Made in the USA’ in the next five years.”  The article goes on to state that a number of companies have already begun to rethink their production locations and supply chains for goods destined to be sold in the U.S.  It looks as if a window of opportunity is opening within the manufacturing sector of the U.S. economy, which should be given serious consideration by all.

As a small U.S. manufacturer we have witnessed the damage caused by the offshoring of manufacturing by the large corporations over the past twenty plus years.  These articles give us hope.  Along with hope, it makes sense for medium to large manufacturers to look within the U.S. for assistance with their production needs.  In other words, manufacturers do not have to rethink about bringing all their production back in-house.   Outsourcing certain production components locally or regionally, a company can realize the following benefits:

• Shorter delivery times – this can be a real asset when you are practicing Just In Time or Lean Manufacturing strategies;
• Fixed cost predictability – you get lot based pricing, and require less floor space and overhead;
• Scalability – the outsourced company is prepared to manage the temporary or permanent increase or decrease in production;
• Innovation – you are planning to implement a new production process and do not wish to give up the needed floor space or resources for short-run productions;
• Offsite inventory – cost savings are realized in floor space and lower manpower requirements used in maintaining inventory;
• Quality improvement – best practices and outsourced company engineering assistance which would be too difficult or time consuming to develop in-house;
• Improve production schedules – your factories are already at capacity or you have a component which falls outside your primary capabilities.

Outsourcing can encompass components directly tied to your resale product, or it can consist of the machine or machines needed to produce your product.  It can also relate to the consumables used in manufacturing your product within your facility.

Being a small U.S. manufacturer, pāco manufacturing^® looks forward to a Manufacturing Renaissance occurring back on this soil.  We have successfully survived over 50 years in the Contract Manufacturing arena, and know intimately the skill and talent of the people who have worked in this industry, whether it is within our own walls or with the customers we have partnered with over the years.  We agree that it is the lifeblood of the American economy, and will work tirelessly along with other manufacturers to keep it flowing.

Contract Manufacturing YouTube Video 

[note: being a newbie to these blogging codex's, I was unable to embed the video directly, but do hope you take time to click on the link above and our new video.]

G. Frederick Rexon Sr., Founder of both Precision Automation Co., Inc. and Paco Manufacturing

With that, I should also add that I promised in the first blog to spotlight members of our team, as they are pāco manufacturing^®’s most valuable resource.  After you read the rest of this post, there will be no question as to why our first recognized individual is none other than G. Frederick Rexon, Sr., the founder of pāco manufacturing^® (58 years ago in 1953) and of our (older) sister plant, Precision Automation Co., Inc. (65 years ago in 1946), located in Cherry Hill, New Jersey. Until recently, Mr. Rexon held the title of CEO of both companies. 

Precision Automation celebrated their 65^th Anniversary this past January.  The celebration also doubled as a salute to Mr. Rexon.  Many words of tribute were expressed for his 65 years of service, for nurturing a business (actually two) especially during the tough times within the manufacturing sector, and for impacting many of our lives during his leadership.  In a blog post on Precision Automation’s website, Dan Rexon eloquently summed up the evening when he wrote:

You should definitely read the remainder of Dan’s post as it provides a great account of a major milestone for a company and many of its associates. Included is a superb YouTube video link depicting the history of Precision Automation Co., Inc. as well as its most valuable resource – its staff.  The story began in a small, privately owned machine fabrication shop in Haddonfield, New Jersey called Precision Parts Company.  It expanded/moved seven times to its current location in Cherry Hill, New Jersey (1966).  The company changed its name to Precision Automation Co., Inc. in 1972 to reflect the new focus of including the design and manufacture of automation machinery along with its machined parts and fabrication services.  From 1972 to the present, Precision Automation has expanded its business to include many product lines and another service division – product handling services.  During this time, Mr. Rexon also set up shop in Indiana, over 700 miles from his current business to  a totally unknown locale, quite a vision and subsequent accomplishment for a small business owner to do as a result of a valued customer’s request.  It said something of the man and his commitment to his customers.  That is how our company was born [and yes - in an old, vacant movie theater, slanted floor and ticket both included].

On our company website (www.pacomfg.com), I wrote an article about the event as well, and would like to reference to this news item again. It is quite an accomplishment for a small company in the United States to make it in the manufacturing sector for 65 consecutive years, but there is no greater triumph than to have achieved this milestone under the leadership of a single family with the continued involvement by the founder of the business.  Our president, Glen A. Morris, reflected on Mr. Rexon’s effective leadership qualities (from his speech at the 65^th Anniversary dinner) where Mr. Morris said:

From the heart, Mr. Morris described Mr. Rexon as a boss, a teacher, a friend, a counselor, a father figure and much more.  These attributes along with his belief of not giving up endeared him with his employees and promoted long term loyalty by many in both plants.

Given this opportunity, I would like to offer for consideration a list depicting the qualities of a good leader which I gleaned from Mr. Morris’ speech regarding Mr. Rexon:

Mr. Rexon ran two businesses, but he believed in the community as well.  For many years he was a volunteer firefighter and belonged to the first aid squad in his hometown.  He is extremely active in his church.  He raced speed boats in his youth, and still enjoys speeding along the Jersey coast in his motorboat. He has been an avid golfer, and has enjoyed travel between his continued involvements with both plants.  Now with his wife, Charlotte, Mr. Rexon will have much more time to travel, visit with family and friends, and enjoy his well-deserved Golden Years!  God Bless!

[postscript from Sue:  I have personally known Mr. Rexon for many years as I have worked at both companies on/off  through my working life.  I purposely added quotes from Dan Rexon and Glen Morris because I could not have expressed it any better (kind of like finding that perfect Hallmark card).  Mr. Rexon has taught me much about business, but also about life.  I thank him from my heart and wish him all the best as he has now begun a new chapter in his life.]

At start of initial teardown for machinery makeover

This third strategy was to offer companies a way to take their existing machinery and update it by refurbishing the equipment while incorporating new technology and new controls to improve quality and performance.  One of our current customers accepted the idea and ran with it.  After placing an initial order to perform Updated Makeovers to (23) machines which were being used at various locations throughout the United States, the customer was so pleased with the results of the first half-dozen, that another order for (30) more machines was placed by the end of 2010.  In addition, an order for (4) new machines for a new facility was placed as well.   These existing machines came in from various locations, in various stages of wear and tear (some of the machines had been built as much as 20 years ago), at various revision levels, and from other manufacturers (not just the ones made by us).  However, by the end of the program, all the machines including the (4) new ones couldn’t be differentiated by age or condition.  In this instance the new technology had been developed by the customer, however, by working with our in-house engineering department, there was no problem adding new features to current equipment.   All of the updated machines have been given new life while being commissioned as new capital equipment.

A sampling of the 63 updated machines prior to return to customer

This strategy proved to be a good one.   It is well worth other manufacturers to consider doing this within these current economic times.  Some points to consider before postponing a change which would improve production or vetoing new equipment due to cost are:

1)      Thousands of dollars can be saved by utilizing and recycling the durable frames and tooling of a machine and its fixtures while implementing new technology and new controls.

2)      Extend the manufacturing life of current equipment at a fraction of the cost of new equipment.

3)      Provide an opportunity to improve the process by which raw materials are being used which could significantly cut production costs.

4)      Offer an opportunity to bring all machines up to the same revision level.

5)      Ability to add new processes through new controls, tooling and additional material handling capabilities to improve production.

6)      Offer new depreciation deductions on already fully depreciated equipment, or in some instances, be able to accelerate the new cost (but please consult your tax advisor as to the handling of this deduction).

7)      Entirely minimize training / start-up costs as the machinery process is a known factor.

If you have ever considered giving your current equipment new life, maybe this is the time to consider the possibilities afforded to you with an Updated Machinery Makeover.  It is an opportunity to extend the manufacturing life of your current equipment at a cost savings while improving your production needs with new technology.  It proved to be a very sound management decision for this customer. Perhaps a decision such as this could benefit your company as well.

And here comes Animal Kingdom, what an upset!!!

That’s right, The Kentucky Derby is known as the most famous two minutes in sports history though if you are not from the Louisville, Kentucky area, you may be unaware of all that goes on in and around Louisville for two weeks before the Kentucky Derby, which is held at the famous Churchill Downs during the first Saturday in May.  This year, the good folks who volunteer to run the festival bragged that there were over 70 events held this year, with most of them occurring throughout those two weeks leading up to the race (note: The Kentucky Derby actually ran this past Saturday – and if you were lucky you bet on Animal Kingdom, a 20-1 long shot, which sadly to say I did not bet on). But back to the festival – we are talking about some major happenings.  I won’t list them all since you can go to http://www.derbyfestival.org/about-us.html to learn all about the history of the festival and all the events. 

However, I do want to name just a few to capitalize on just how amazing this festival is.  The major kick-off is Thunder Over Louisville, which occurs on the Saturday afternoon usually two weeks before the derby.  It is an afternoon filled with a foodfest, a tremendous airshow over the Ohio River, and one of the nation’s largest annual fireworks display. This event is even listed in Wikipedia, has been going on since 1990, and is the most awesome display of pyrotechnics which I have ever seen (there is even a pyrotechnic waterfall during the show, over one of the bridges spanning the Ohio River – Amazing)!  During the next two weeks you can see or even participate in a Marathon/Mini-Marathon (for you runners, this is a Boston Marathon qualifying event), the Great Steamboat Race(yes folks – real steamboats and if you are lucky, you can register for a seat on one of them and a chance to be in the actual race down the Ohio River), the Run for the Rose’ (a foot race of waiters/waitresses running with trays of filled wine glasses), the Wine Festival on the River (for us up and coming wine connoisseurs), a couple of hot-air balloon races (or take in a balloon glow which is a site in itself to see), and yes even live bed racing (yes, real beds on wheels with a rider and a number of pushers!)

But there is still more, and I can’t forget to mention the Pegasus Parade which was first held in 1956 as the first event of the festival preceding the derby, which is filled with floats, giant inflatables, marching bands and celebrities.  For sports enthusiasts other than runners, there are events involving golf, basketball and volleyball.  There are numerous concerts for the music lovers, and about two-thirds of the events are free and family-friendly. 

Granted, I am writing this after the fact, but my intention is to give you a glimpse of where we are located, which is just across the river from Louisville, Kentucky.  We are proud of how Louisville has made itself into a “destination city.”  Statistics noted from the Derby Festival website report that annual attendance of the events has exceeded 1.5 million in recent years with people coming from all over the world.  We are also proud of being the ‘one source’ for a company’s manufacturing and assembly requirements.  We would like to invite prospective customers as well as our long-term partners to put us on the calendar for next May (mid – end of April if you really want to have fun) for a visit to our plant, to meet with our staff, and have a little fun at the next Derby Festival!!  Hope to see you next year. Not to say you have to wait that long… our doors are always open!

pāco manufacturing® has now entered the race commonly known as Social Networking.  Our entry appears a bit late, and I will confess it was all due to my hesitation.  [Inside tidbit: I bring up the tail end of the baby boomer generation and yes there is a correlation there].  It was not due to any of the mechanics of networking systems or components, but due to my skepticism of how a B2B and social networking mesh.  To my way of thinking, it does not follow traditional, professional, disciplined or formal conventions.  Additionally, we are talking about a machine shop with engineering capabilities, not a consumer-centered operation such as retail or service providers.  Our customer base is other manufacturing businesses, not the general public.

However, my convictions are not scribed into concrete or branded into steel, nor should they be.  I have been doing some homework, googling information, listening to others, and questioning my own skepticism, and have come to these realizations.  Social networking is personal.  What I have read and been told in these past few weeks is that “Business is personal.”  Thus said, there is  a definite correlation between social network and business.  But how does a B2B company fit in with social networking?  Another realization – only a percentage of our business is the actual manufacturing of machines and machine parts [pāco manufacturing® does not produce a single product line or cater to a single industry], while a greater percentage consists of services to our customers, be it design, engineering, installation, updates, onsite troubleshooting, customer relations, partnering with vendors, or teamworking with each other to get the job done right.  [Ok, the last part may sound cliché but it is still a primary mission for us].  This was enough proof for us to join the race.

In the following weeks, pāco manufacturing® will become visible on Facebook, YouTube, Linked In, and of course, on this company blog.  Future posts will delve into who we are and what we do; it will spotlight members of our team, our most valuable resource; and present you with ideas relating to our industry and expertise.  Have you ever been at a function where, “out of the blue,” a comment or story was voiced which got you thinking, “Hey, interesting concept, or That could work for us, or I should look into that”, or any number of possible thoughts?  Nonetheless, it was something which got you thinking and perhaps helped inspire a new procedure or project or provided an answer to a nagging problem.  I read recently that a big slice of innovation is the mixing together of two or more components into a new component or a new use.  One final aspect about blogs is that ideas can be shared; posts and comments can be made, making it a worthwhile endeavor for the blogger as well as the reader.  Have a great week!

[My introduction – Hello there, I am Sue Foulks, author of this post and initial main blogger of this site.  I admitted earlier that I am a Baby Boomer, but am not anywhere near ready to concede to being “Over the Hill.”  There is still too much to learn and do.  Back in 2009, I graduated from Indiana Wesleyan University with a Bachelors of Science in Business Information Systems.  I earned my Associates in Accounting years before, and I currently wear many hats at pāco manufacturing®, designing and maintaining the website and now the blog among my varied accounting duties.  I enjoy family time, pre-70 circa movies, computers, reading, gardening, and finally my novice attempt at the game of golf.  I want to express my appreciation to Dan Rexon of our sister plant, Precision Automation®Co., Inc. who has helped me immensely with his pro-arguments and probing questions [great blog site too], and to the management of pāco manufacturing® for having the patience to allow me to drag my feet and come to terms with my skepticism and the total picture of social networking.  May it be a work in progress for all of us].