Tazewell Machine Works

“At the size we are, we’re able to offer the personal touch. If customers need answers, they don’t have to go through layers of bureaucracy. We’re very responsive.” Tazewell also carries inventory for some of its larger OEM customers, helping them to shed the expenses and hassles of in-house inventory. “We’ve got flexibility there,” says Cakora. “We’re flexible whether it comes to service or quality. If quality issues come up, we’re able to jump on them quickly. Our management team, most of us wear several hats. We’re all in the loop with the big picture.” Most of the company’s work is concentrated in the Midwest, but it does have customers headquartered in the South and on either coast. “We have a few jobs that we ship overseas,” says Cakora. “Although we do very little exporting ourselves, we’re global because our two largest customers happen to be big exporters. Our castings end up all over the world.” Tazewell relies primarily on freelance sales agents to bring them new customers. As a smaller manufacturer, it’s a better fit for them to outsource their sales force. “In this business, it takes a while to acquire a new customer,” says Cakora. “You might have to visit them several times before you get a chance to quote something, and that’s if an opportunity even comes up. It’s a process. The manufacturer representatives are a good way to go because we pay them if we get the business. We’re not covering payroll and expenses if we don’t.” Lately, Tazewell has been striving to diversify its customer base in order to mitigate the risk of relying on larger, but fewer, customers as well as bring more stability to the revenues. “We’ve picked up a few new clients in the past year that are in some different markets we’re excited about,” shares Cakora. “This not only represents some additional work for us, but also some industries that are a little more recession-proof. Our two biggest customers operate in more cyclical industries, and you sort of ride the wave. When things go down, you go down with them. We’re optimistic about acquiring, not only new customers, but new markets, as well. We’re hopeful that in future downturns, we won’t be hit quite as hard.” While the company plans to vary its portfolio in Plant Manager, Ryan Cakora Owner, Mack Cakora