Manufacturer of the year AwardThe Manufacturers Alliance has recognized Precision Associates, Inc. (PAI) as the 2019 Manufacturer of the Year in the mid-size company category. PAI is a leader in high-performance, consistent sealing solutions and precision-molded rubber products. The award honors manufacturers who exhibit openness in sharing their experiences and information to strengthen fellow manufacturers. Awards will be presented at a ceremony on Wednesday, April 24, 2019 at the Earle Brown Heritage Center in Brooklyn Center, Minn. 

“It is an honor to be acknowledged with this award among other outstanding Minnesota-based manufacturing companies,” says Bridget Hanson, vice president of sales and marketing of PAI. “In addition to exchanging information with other manufacturers in the Manufacturers Alliance peer groups, PAI is active in many industry associations, learning from other companies and sharing information on the industry, economics, market trends, technical advancements and environmental and safety regulations.”

Each year, the Manufacturers Alliance presents the Manufacturer of the Year award in three categories: companies with fewer than 100 employees, 100 to 400, and 401 or more employees. Companies nominated for the Manufacturer of the Year award are recognized for sharing information and continuous improvement that strengthens the Minnesota manufacturing community. Examples of such participation include manufacturing-related education seminars, plant tours for peers, technical articles and peer mentoring groups.

PAI serves as an O-ring subject matter expert for the International Sealing Distribution Association (ISD). As part of the ISD Spring Tech Event, PAI conducts training such as decoding ASTM rubber classifications, rubber molding and laboratory testing demonstrations and plant tours for other attendees. The company invites supply chain partners to participate in training on rubber material selections for specific applications, which is a unique opportunity for interaction between chemical producers and seal distributors. In addition, PAI partners with local companies to conduct manufacturing engineering exchanges, letting teams experience different equipment and processes. PAI employees are also involved in community outreach, such as raising grant scholarship funds for high school and college students seeking a STEM education.

Manufacturers Alliance
Hundreds of local manufacturers trust the Manufacturers Alliance for their training needs in the pursuit of operational excellence. The Association’s mission is to inspire and equip manufacturers with the skills and tools needed to continuously grow, improve and stay competitive. This is accomplished through a community of peers and learning from the experiences of fellow practitioners. www.mfrall.com