Don R. Fruchey/PWC Fabrication

emergency jobs hit, and we rely heavily on our vendors to expedite material to us so we can get our customer’s operation back up and running.” Going forward, Brewster says that in addition to expanding its shop area, the company is planning on instituting some apprentice programs to help bring in younger welders and fabricators coming out of the area’s technical schools. “That’s a hard area, right now, to find good qualified people,” he avers. “So we’re trying to set up our own, in- house apprenticeship program. They get a fairly good knowledge coming out of tech school, but to really get the hands-on basis of what an actual fabrication shop is like, we feel that needs to be hit hard, within the company, itself.” Lastly, Brewster believes that the future of Don R. Fruchey/PWC Fabrication is secure if the company continues to adhere to its corporate philosophy, which he defines as: being the leader in customer satisfaction for its products and services; meeting or exceeding customer quality and performance requirements; providing products and services at competitive prices; providing a safe working environment, including training and education for its workers; operating effectively and efficiently so that the company can remain financially healthy; providing growth opportunities for company members; being versatile and innovative; and populating the company with ‘the best of the best.’ “To me, a company is like a well-defined machine where all parts are critical in order for it to function properly,” he concludes. “But, it only takes one part to malfunction and bring it to a screeching halt. That is why it is critical to have the ‘best of the best.’” PREFERRED VENDOR n Midwest Pipe & Steel www.midwestpipe.com