Manufacturing Spotlight: Change Parts Inc.

Company Background

Custom Packaging Equipment Manufacturing in Ludington, Michigan

Since 1982, Change Parts Inc. has been designing and manufacturing bottle and cap handling solutions that keep production lines running efficiently. Based in Ludington, the company is part of the AMET Packaging family of companies, alongside E-Pak Machinery, which specializes in inline liquid filling, capping, bottle handling, and labeling solutions, and Oden Machinery, a provider of advanced filling, dosing, and blending systems.

Today, the three AMET Packaging companies employ more than 100 people across their locations, including approximately 30 employees at Change Parts, while remaining family-owned and family-led. Change Parts designs and builds the custom tooling that keeps packaging equipment running smoothly across industries including food and beverage, pharmaceuticals, personal care, and petroleum, working as an engineer-to-order manufacturer regardless of the original equipment manufacturer.

The Challenge

When an Aging ERP System Becomes a Growth Bottleneck

As Change Parts Inc. continued to grow, its aging ERP system became a bottleneck. Employees needed better functionality, smoother workflows, and technology that could support the business's next stage of growth. That's where MMTC-West stepped in, providing consulting, workforce development, and technology support to manufacturers across 13 West Michigan counties, including Mason County, home to Ludington-based Change Parts.

The Solution

A Clear Path Forward, Built on Assessment and Grant Support

What started as an Industry 4.0 Assessment grew into a full ERP modernization project that secured grant funding, streamlined operations, and delivered measurable time savings.

In fall 2025, MMTC-West conducted an Industry 4.0 Assessment, a comprehensive evaluation of Change Parts' business processes, systems, and technology, to identify opportunities for improvement and develop a roadmap for modernization. From there, the MMTC-West team helped the company secure grant funding, connect with an ERP provider, and guide them through the implementation process from start to finish.

The Impact

Real Time Savings, Starting with the First Month-End Close

Once implemented, the results were almost immediate. One month-end accounting process that previously took significantly longer now takes just an hour and a half.

"That's a monthly process, so we're talking between 30 and 35 hours a year saved," Vice President Cody Leedham explained.

Beyond the measurable time savings, the upgraded ERP system has streamlined employee workflows, improved efficiency across departments, and equipped the team with the tools needed to continue growing the business. This same results-driven approach has proven valuable for customers like Beam Suntory. When Beam Suntory's Frankfort, Kentucky bottling facility needed a better system for organizing changeparts across nine production lines, Change Parts helped centralize storage and cut downtime, reclaiming about 1,200 square feet of floor space in the process. Read the full Beam Suntory success story to learn more.

Every manufacturer has opportunities to work smarter, grow faster, and strengthen their workforce. MMTC-West partners with manufacturers across West Michigan to make those opportunities a reality. Contact us at TheCenter@rightplace.org.