Over 400 manufacturing industry professionals attended the event in Somerset, New Jersey. U.S. Manufacturing Day is a national event with local activities designed to expand and improve the public's knowledge and perception of the manufacturing industry and its value to the U.S. economy. At the New Jersey event, attendees and panelists discussed issues pertaining to manufacturing in New Jersey including: recruiting, challenging and retaining new generations of employees; the importance of cross-training; the importance of continuing education; and creating awareness of the various grant programs, talent networks and professional associates available to manufacturers in the state.
In receiving the award, City Theatrical (CTI) was recognised for its resilience in bouncing back from the devastating effects of Hurricane Sandy, which poured 39" of water into its 40,000sq.ft. Carlstadt manufacturing facility, damaging or destroying every piece of manufacturing equipment as well as all phones, computers, offices, files, and most inventory.
Even after having no electricity for nine days, and being unable to produce or ship product for over a month while rebuilding all production equipment, CTI retained all office and factory workers, and its resourceful staff immediately started to rebuild the company, working long hours in the cold and dark factory with the determination to rebuild the company better than it ever was.
In 2014, CTI invested in a new, state of the art, high speed automated printed circuit board production line and installed a new electronics assembly lab in its Carlstadt facility to help accommodate the nearly 100% increase in yearly revenue since the flood three years ago.
City Theatrical utilises an innovative open book management system in which all important financial and operational metrics of the company's activities are shared with all 40 staff members at a monthly meeting (with full Spanish translation), as well as a profit sharing program dedicated to the philosophy that those who help create the company's profits should share in those profits.
CTI also provides a comprehensive two year manufacturing skills training program for all production staff covering concepts such as safety, shop math, measuring, materials, fasteners, and electronic skills, to the operation and maintenance of all production machinery.
City Theatrical is a manufacturer of lighting accessories for the entertainment and architectural lighting industries and has offices in Carlstadt, New Jersey and London, England. CTI's products are found in theatres and studios across America and around the world, and are part of nearly every Broadway and West End Show, as well as many network television productions, feature films, and permanent architectural lighting installations.
(LSi Online)
