Luciano
Bencosme works on an aircraft engine part at Propulsion Technologies
International in Miramar. The company will recognized this week as one
of South Florida's top manufacturing companies.
(Carline Jean / Sun Sentinel / September 10, 2014)
In some ways, airliners are similar to your car.
“After so many miles, you have to bring it in for an oil change or tune-up,” said Kimberly Gardner, plant leader at Propulsion Technologies International of Miramar. “After so many hours running an [aircraft] engine, you basically have to service the engine.”
That work is creating double-digit growth at Propulsion Technologies, which repairs parts for one aircraft engine line for General Electric Aviation and France-based Snecma. The engine, the CFM56, powers Boeing and Airbus commercial aircraft.
Propulsion Technologies will be recognized this week as one of the South Florida Manufacturing Association’s 2014 Manufacturers of the Year. The others are Hotpie in Fort Pierce, PAC Seating Systems in Palm City and Techno Coatings in Miami.
Propulsion Technologies’ revenues grew 28 percent in 2012 and 22 percent last year, said Gardner, who joined Propulsion Technologies in 2012 after a long career at GE in Hartford, Conn.
The company increased staff by 6 percent in 2013 and will more than double that growth this year, she said. The Miramar company employs 153 people and is hiring for manual machinists, process engineers and quality engineers.
Gardner is working with Snecma partner Thomas Grosclaude to launch a program at Broward College to generate local workers with the skills they need.
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“They’re not just employing people at high-level jobs; they’re investing in our community,” June Wolfe, president of the South Florida Manufacturers Association, said of Propulsion Technologies’ move from Doral to Miramar in 2011.
Gardner said leadership principles she learned at GE have served her well. At Propulsion Technologies, she manages autonomous teams, rather than layers of management.
“The team makes decisions based on the customers’ needs,” she said.
Employees also attend team-building events at Broward College’s Tigertail adventure learning program.
Norm Seavers, associate vice president at the college’s Institute for Economic Development, said Tigertail is designed to help organizations improve communications, resolve conflict or address other issues.
South Florida Manufacturers Annual Meeting
WHEN: 4 p.m. Thursday
WHERE: Coral Springs Marriott, 11775 Heron Bay Blvd.
EVENT: "State of the Art Thinking," with keynote by management consultant Mike Adams and a panel discussion with the award-winning manufacturers
CONTACT: Kaitlin Centonze at 954-941-3558
- Source: http://www.sun-sentinel.com
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