Cascade Engineering

Cascade Engineering

Introduction

Cascade Engineering is a multi-business manufacturer and marketer supporting multiple brands, employing more than 1,000 people throughout the U.S. and more than 500 within their Grand Rapids, Michigan location. They manufacture for and market to a variety of industries such as automotive, commercial truck & bus, solid waste & recycling, furniture, material handling and renewable energy[1].

Through their tire dealer in Grand Rapids, Morrison Industrial Equipment, Cascade Engineering began testing Continental 18x7-8 (180/70-8) CSEasy SC 15 tires on their Linde model H18 forklifts in fall 2008. By the following spring, the tires had been in successful use for more than 1,800 hours! This was a welcome improvement for Cascade, who was used to only 300 to 1,000 hours of tire lifetimes from competitors.

Staffing Plan Objectives

Cascade Consulting Group, a business unit of Cascade Engineering, enables organizations and communities to define and achieve results and profitability through triple bottom line strategies.”[2]

Established around Cascade Engineering's “Employer of Choice” practices, Cascade Consulting Group was formed to help organizations use sustainable solutions to produce business and community results. We provide training, mentoring and consulting services from theory to practice.

Description of industry, industry trends

Today, Cascade Engineering is a developer and manufacturer of injection molded products for the automotive, solid waste and industrial markets. The Cascade Engineering Family of Companies employs approximately 1,100 people globally and 600 in the Grand Rapids area. Sales for 2006 were $232.7M. According to its Company Policy Statement, Cascade is committed to continuously and systematically:

Improving quality, cost and delivery through employee involvement

Developing metrics that link Cascade, our suppliers and customers

Making our community involvement a benchmarking model

Taking responsible environmental actions including compliance with environmental regulations and pollution prevention

Recently, Cascade's Vice President of Business Services, Kenyatta Brame said, "in this organization, we're saying making money is important - that allows us all to have jobs - but equally important are how you treat your people, and the impact, the footprint you leave on the world." [3]

A manufacturer of injection and blow molded parts and components for the automotive, medium and heavy truck and other industries. Applications include sound barriers and absorbers (engine covers, HVAC covers, solenoid covers, and manifold covers) and automotive trim, door panels, seat backs, and components (floor console assemblies, steering column covers, cowl grilles, interior door panels, and carpeted map pockets, etc.), as well as blow molded tubular products.

Description of company, brand and staff retention strategies

Cascade Engineering is the first known employer in the United States to have a government social services case worker on site. We have learned how to use community collaboration to successfully employ people from poverty and provide them with a path to a successful career. Retention rates are above 95% and the transition to a culture that cares has helped Cascade Engineering become an Employer of Choice. Cascade Consulting assists other organizations in designing workforce development solutions to meet the needs of business and the community.[4]

Cascade has been recognized both locally and nationally for its efforts to promote a diverse ...