Happy Manufacturing Month: A peek behind the scenes

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) – October is Manufacturing Month, a time to honor the men and women who help build the products we rely on every single day.

At Metalworking Solutions in Chattanooga, the celebration began with a powerful moment.

Standing together, employees smiled proudly as they shouted, “Happy Manufacturing Month!”

It was a simple phrase, but one that carried weight.

Each person in that room represented the dedication, skill, and teamwork that keep America’s industries moving forward.

Metalworking Solutions is a Chattanooga-based metal fabrication shop that turns raw materials into the parts and products used in everyday projects.

From industrial equipment to architectural frames, if it’s made from metal, chances are it has been through a place like this.

President and CEO Nick Burrows explained what that work really means.

“We’re a sheet metal fabricator, which in large form just means that we make sheet metal components and finished assemblies that go into various industries.”

Walking through the facility, the precision is clear.

Every cut, bend, and weld plays a role in shaping materials that become vital pieces of construction, transportation, and countless other fields.

Shipping Supervisor Seth Hope described how metal fabrication connects nearly everything around us.

“We’re like the baseline of infrastructure for all construction, for different fields and automotive. Kind of every field you could imagine, there’s a hand in fabrication somewhere in it. We start with flat steel, stainless, aluminum. We cut it out, then we bend it, weld it, and put it to whatever spec our customer’s product is.”

Each department contributes something unique to the process.

Every worker has a role in turning an empty sheet of steel into something functional, strong, and built to last.

Turret and Press Brake Lead Operator Bryce Massey described a typical shift on the production floor.

“Typically, when you come in, your lead will guide you to whatever machine you might be on that night. You’ll run parts and do quality checks. The goal every night is simple. Run production, make good quality parts, and leave in a safe manner.”

For many employees, the reward comes when they see the final result of their efforts.

Hope shared that sense of pride.

“Getting to see the finished product is really neat. You start with nothing and end up with a complete finished unit you can take pride in once it’s done. You also get the gratitude from our customers.”

That feeling of accomplishment is shared across the company.

Massey smiled as he described the transformation of raw material into something remarkable.

“You’re literally taking something that was flat at one point and forming it into something amazing.”

For Burrows, the meaning of Manufacturing Month goes beyond the work itself.

It represents opportunity, purpose, and community.

“I’m just really thankful to be involved with manufacturing and what it does to create good jobs for good people and keep this world running the way we know it.”

At Metalworking Solutions, Manufacturing Month is not just about recognition.

It is a celebration of skill, dedication, and the people who take pride in building the world around us.

News 12 hopes everyone enjoyed this behind-the-scenes look at what happens before you pick that next product off the shelf.

Click here to learn more about the manufacturing industry with Metalworking Solutions.

Categories: Featured, Local News