Manufacturing Best Practices in West Michigan: Highlights from Flexfab and Gentex

How Industry Councils Strengthen Manufacturing in Greater Grand Rapids

The Right Place, Inc. (RPI) strives to create a sustainable, growing economy in Greater Grand Rapids while providing opportunities for industry leaders to engage in this movement. Of our four industry councils, this piece highlights recent events attended by the Manufacturers Council and the Supply Chain Management Council. These groups were created to promote collaboration across the region, share best practices, foster networking among business leaders, and address shared challenges. As members, participants receive exclusive invitations to industry-specific events where they gain actionable insights into their businesses and build new relationships to grow their network.

Inside Flexfab, A Global Leader in Silicone and Polymer Manufacturing

The Manufacturers Council was welcomed by the Flexfab team in October. More than 40 council members attended, gaining insight into Flexfab’s company history, mission, values, and core business practices. The team fostered an open learning environment, encouraging questions and discussion to ensure everyone walked away with shared understanding and new perspectives.

Key Takeaways from the Flexfab Tour:

• What Manufacturers Learned on the Flexfab Facility Tour: Council members saw firsthand how Flexfab products are made, providing a valuable opportunity to watch their processes in action.

• Tour Highlights: Attendees learned about Flexfab’s process control systems, the key metrics used to monitor performance, and the training methods that equip team members to work effectively while maintaining a safety-first mindset.

• Wrapping Up: The visit concluded with a collaborative debrief in the conference room, where both council members and Flexfab team members shared observations and insights for mutual learning and improvement.

Gentex Corporation, a Global Leader in High-Tech Manufacturing

The Manufacturers Council and Supply Chain Management Council were hosted by Gentex Corporation for an inside look at their world-class manufacturing facility. Attendees heard from five of Gentex’s experts: Paul Flynn, Justin Ross, Fran Bruischart, Rob Roush, and Brent Sloterbeek covering how the company has evolved into the global leader it is today.

Key Takeaways from the Gentex Corporate Discussion:

• History of Gentex: Technology integration; biometric and camera monitoring advancements; driver safety enhancements; product expansion.

• Science Behind Their Work: Creation of dimming mirrors; the process from production to consumption; final assembly; machine build; testing and measurement; ensuring both physical and emotional safety.

• Lean Principles: Deep dive into real-world examples of their lean manufacturing and how it’s implemented daily, how Gentex has built systems that catch defects and save money, and their progression of Toyota Kata.

• Data Collection & Analytics: How Gentex manages multilevel KPIs, the architecture of their Manufacturing Execution System, their use of AI and automation to derive advanced analytics, and various applications of Microsoft Copilot.

What Council Members Saw on the Gentex Facility Tours:

• Glass Production Tour – A behind-the-scenes look at how Gentex’s exterior automotive mirrors are made, including fully automated processes such as glass cutting, seaming, washing, metal coating, and curing.

• Electronics Production Tour – A walkthrough of electronic production lines assembling digital vision and sensing products for automotive applications, as well as aerospace and fire protection products.

Both events were highly engaging and educational for the Manufacturers Council and the Supply Chain Management Council, and an excellent example of each organization’s commitment to transparency, continuous improvement, and industry collaboration. Thank you to the Flexfab and Gentex teams for their preparation and for generously hosting these visits.

Why Best Practice Tours Matter for Local Manufacturers

The Manufacturers Council and Supply Chain Management Council prioritize getting inside local manufacturers to highlight best practices being implemented across the industry. These Tours of Best Practices occur several times a year, giving council members multiple opportunities to see what’s happening locally, gain new operational perspectives, and share strategies while fostering new partnerships across the region.

To learn more about membership requirements for each council, please visit Supply Chain Management & Manufacturers Council.