Local manufacturing firm continues to add jobs

Thanks in a large part to a diverse customer base, DeWys Manufacturing has had “non-stop hiring for the last two to three years,” according to Work Force Development Manager, Laura Elsner.

In the last six months, the job shop has hired nearly 20 temporary workers and has filled several full-time positions, with many more still open. “There are quite a few opportunities with various levels of knowledge and skills, ranging from entry level to advanced,” says Elsner, adding that the talent pool in West Michigan is good, but the hiring process is now lengthier. “We look for a cultural fit,” she says. “We will pay for any education, but it takes a lot longer now.”

Elsner describes DeWys as a smaller company, with just over 150 employees total. “We are family-minded. Our owners are very involved and we have an open door policy. There is no hierarchy.”

To assist in the hiring process, Elsner recently participated in the the Ready NOW program, a job fair and training program that helps candidates not only find jobs, but teaches them interviewing skills as well. “I was there three of five days as a facilitator at a table. It was a good opportunity to work with people a bit differently. I interview a lot of people, and this was a new way to work with others,” Elsner says.

To learn more about DeWys Manufacturing, you can visit their site here.  

Source: Laura Elsner, DeWys Manufacturing
Writer: John Rumery, Innovation and Jobs News Editor