In this week's Made in Michigan, Kevin Usealman takes us to Davison where he finds a proud Michigan company whose owners are "pioneers" in made-to-order cabinets.
One of the great things about Made in Michigan is finding things made right in our backyard that we didn't even know were made here. I grew up in Davison and had no idea Pioneer Cabinetry was here shipping products all over the country.
Larry Fox purchased the company in 1986 along with his partner, Jack Dixon. Back then, the products fit on one sheet of paper. And now?
"We're up to a full three-ring binder of offerings based on customer needs and wants," Fox said.
The cabinets are made-to-order.
"Loaded into the computer is everything they need to cut for the day," said Customer Service Manager Jeff Weiler. "As that cabinet is built, he can turn around, grab the components that need to go in and slide it right into the cabinet."
Seventy sets of hands perfect every detail, from doors to perfectly matched paint.
"My main job is to make sure that the new parts are on color so that everything we use in the company going forward is on color," said Finish Tech Janette Reif.
Reif is one of several employees whose service is counted in decades.
"Those people, who have been here a long time, have a lot of themselves invested," Weiler said. "They really do care about what goes on and whether we're shipping good quality stuff."
They're proud to have that "stuff" made here in Michigan.
"We all look at the jobs that have been shipped away and we say 'I know someone who has been affected by that in a negative way,' " Fox said. "We've tried to keep the supply chain as much as we can using Michigan-made products by Michigan people."
To purchase Pioneer Cabinets, visit their website of find a dealer near you.
