Manufacturing Excellence:
Landscape Forms Celebrates
Two Major Industry Recognitions
In a year that was
“unprecedented” in many ways, the Landscape Forms manufacturing teams can close out 2020 by celebrating
the unique position of receiving not one, but two industry-leading recognitions—2020 Michigan
Manufacturer of the Year and a top-three ranking in Fortune Magazine’s Best Workplaces in Manufacturing
& Production.
“It’s wonderful news and a source of pride, for sure,”
says Landscape Forms Manufacturing Manager, Blaise Beltowski. “We tend to be a culture of hard work and
humility, so when our company is recognized externally by organizations such as these, it’s an important
reminder to take a moment to congratulate one another and celebrate our accomplishments together.”
According to CEO Marjorie Simmons, there are many aspects to the company’s
manufacturing culture that make it unique, but a commitment to craft, continuous improvement and versatility
are primary drivers. “Every one of our manufacturing team members are leaders in their own right, developers
with a strong connection to a number of different projects who know they’re creating art.”
From electronics assembly, to powdercoating and welding,
every manufacturing role at Landscape Forms is supported by robust internal training programs. This
commitment to professional development serves not only to expand capabilities and drive innovation
internally, but also to bolster the local talent pool, create new opportunities and contribute to the
prosperity of the community as a whole. “We believe in the protégé effect,” explains Simmons. “By pushing
ourselves to be teachers, we in turn are constantly learning—it drives our growth and simultaneously
strengthens our manufacturing community.”
When looking into the career stories of individuals at
Landscape Forms, the theme of organic internal growth comes up time and time again. “It’s not just limited
to manufacturing. Throughout all facets of our organization—marketing, finance, I.T., engineering, sales—we
have people who started out somewhere in the company other than where they are today who have followed their
passions, leveraged the resources Landscape Forms provides, and have grown into bigger roles with more
responsibility,” describes Manufacturing Manager, Adam Dintaman.
The company’s approach to professional development in
manufacturing seeks to balance a depth of specialized knowledge with a breadth of competency and
capabilities. “We’ve always excelled in design and are confident in our identity as a design-forward
company. But over the past few years, we’ve spent a lot of time developing our identity on the manufacturing
side,” says Vice President of Operations, Tim Woolley. “We realized it’s our flexibility in manufacturing
that sets us apart. The way we employ extensive cross-training to develop a nimble workforce with a diverse
skillset forms the basis of this very unique identity.”
That flexibility was tested – and proved to be a valuable asset for its community – when the first wave of
COVID-19 struck. As the virus pushed local hospitals beyond capacity and manufacturing was shut down in the
State of Michigan, Landscape Forms quickly assembled a volunteer team to aid in the construction of
emergency relief beds for pop up hospitals.
Following the shutdown, as manufacturing in the state began to reopen, Landscape Forms’ Pandemic Response
Team developed its “Return to Work: Safe Work Playbook” to establish new strategies and guidelines for safe
working environments. When shared with local manufacturers, the playbook’s positive impact was immediately
evident, with one partner stating “I wouldn’t have been able to reopen without it.”
A celebration of community and the heritage of Michigan manufacturing is also central to Landscape Forms’
manufacturing culture. To Jim Marshall, the company’s Vice President of Culture, the recent recognitions are
important not only for Landscape Forms’ own reputation, but also a nod to the region’s historical roots.
“These awards are absolutely a feather in our cap and an important step in broadening our recognition,” he
says. “But they're also an important celebration of the design-centric culture here in Kalamazoo, a
continuation of the profound history of creativity and craftsmanship in the furniture and auto industries in
Southwest Michigan.”
“Being named 2020 Michigan Manufacturer of the Year and ranking top three in Fortune Magazine’s Best
Workplaces in Manufacturing & Production are significant milestones for us because they recognize more than
just excellence in our field,” says the Landscape Forms CEO Simmons. “They also celebrate the responsibility
we have as a company to enact positive change in all the communities to which we belong—our community of
fellow team members, our community of fellow manufacturers, and our community of fellow Michiganders.”