Feb 21, 2014 3 min read

Two longtime Washington County manufacturers were honored Thursday by a regional economic development organization that works to promote and expand the region’s manufacturing industry.

Pittsburgh-based Catalyst Connection honored Canonsburg’s All-Clad Metalcrafters for its work in connecting area youth to manufacturing and Southpointe-based Accutrex Products for continuing process improvements at the county’s largest machine shop operation.

The two local firms were among 11 regional companies honored at a banquet at PNC Park’s Hall of Fame Club hosted by Catalyst, a nonprofit organization that works with small- and mid-sized manufacturers in 12 counties in a variety of ways to improve everything from hiring procedures to processes to enhance and grow their operations.

Catalyst Chief Executive Officer Petra Mitchell said the manufacturing industry is doing well in Southwestern Pennsylvania, but faces major challenges when it comes to finding an adequately trained workforce.

“By the numbers, manufacturing is strong in our region,” Mitchell said. “Driven by continued innovation, it is our second fastest growing industry (energy is first), with average salaries of $57,000. However, we face a daunting challenge because we don’t have enough people with the skills to continue this growth. As a result, jobs remain unfilled while this gap continues to widen.”

Mitchell, who said she visits about 1,000 regional manufacturing companies each year, said each has at least one unfilled position.

All-Clad produces professional-quality bonded cookware that is widely sought after by the world’s top chefs and passionate home cooks.

Mitchell said All-Clad was one of three regional producers to be noted this year for its work in engaging high school students to explore manufacturing as a career possibility.

Mitchell, who said Catalyst has been holding an awards banquet for the past four years, said it began the award for companies that encourage youth to explore the industry to underscore the need for young manufacturing talent.

“Every manufacturer needs to embrace the cause to help students envision careers in our industry. By showcasing innovative, high-paying and technologically savvy careers, we can attract talent to fuel the future of manufacturing,” she said.

Catalyst, which is supported by the Alcoa Foundation and the Benedum Foundation, offers programs to help companies connect with youth via internships, plant tours, job shadowing, apprenticeships, e-mentoring and Adventures in Technology, which offers youth real-world research projects.

Accutrex was among eight area companies recognized for continuous improvement success. It manufactures custom shims, gaskets, metal stampings, sheet metal fabrication and assemblies, as well as laminated materials and products cut from these materials.

Accutrex worked with a Catalyst quality/process improvement consultant to enhance its quality management system to meet the requirements of the AS9100 standard to expand its customer base in the aerospace and defense industries.