and operational excellence. The company recently completed a major upgrade to its manufacturing floor, implementing new technologies that reduced manual processes, brought formerly outsourced work back in-house, and unlocked new design capabilities. One of the most impactful additions has been a state-of-the-art water jet system that dramatically accelerates component production and eliminates dependencies created by supplier closures. Equally meaningful is GEMCO’s investment in its workforce. Employees are supported through technical and management certifications, including project management (PMP), SQF food safety training, material-handling certifications, and ongoing skill development. Engineers are trained not only in software and simulation tools such as finite element analysis, but also in operator-level understanding at APS. “We invest in our employees because that is ultimately our innovation engine,” Bickhardt says. “We are a learning company.” LEADERSHIP SHAPED BY HANDS-ON EXPERIENCE While GEMCO’s technology is advanced, its leadership philosophy remains rooted in humility and firsthand knowledge. Bickhardt’s own journey is a reflection of that ethos. As a second-generation leader in a family business, she began her GEMCO career not in an office, but on the floor at APS—mopping, cleaning, loading machines, learning each part, and running the facility alongside nine operators after the unexpected passing of its former manager. “It taught me everything,” she recalls. “I learned It’s cold. It’s hot. mokon.com Water Systems Heat Transfer Oil Systems Chiller Systems Engineered Systems Orcinus Manifolds Full Range Systems Process Control from -20°F (-29°C) to 650°F (343°C). A system for every need. 144 BUSINESS VIEW MAGAZINE VOLUME 13, ISSUE 01
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