In 1995, it happened for the state-of-the-art TRW plant in Cookeville.  It was a big deal.  In 2000, it happened for the much-lauded  Aeroquip-Inoac operation in Livingston.  It was a big deal then, too. 

It's been almost a full decade since this region has had the opportunity to celebrate this sort of big deal in manufacturing. 

But now, in 2009, "it" has happened for another plant:  the Philips Luminaires North America plant in Sparta, Tennessee has been named by Industry Week magazine as one of North America's top ten manufacturing facilities.

Competing with the best facilites in Canada, Mexico and across the U.S., the manufacturing center known by many in Sparta as "Thomas'" is making a little bit of history.  

Annually, Industry Week magazine hosts a rigorous competition, requiring an indepth examination of almost every aspect of the manufacturing operation over a multi-year period.   Applicants must supply an extensive amount of supporting data, demonstrating that they have achieved results that far outpace norms for their industry and markets. 

From these applications, 20 are initially chosen for the magazine.  In both 2007 and 2008, the Philips Luminaires North America plant was in the magazine's top 20 list -- no small accomplishment according to writer Jill Jusko.   But Philips in Sparta had their eyes on another prize: the top 10.

The real "big deal" comes with the distinction of being chosen from among the 20 as one of the top 10 best of the best -- a selection that comes only after additional on-site audits and a second round of application data is provided. 

For Philips in Sparta, the third time proved the charm, and the announcement was officially made last week:  Philips Luminaires North America is a "Top Ten Best Plant" facility, with a supporting article in the on-line Industry Week magazine.  The company will also be featured in the paper magazine as it goes to distribution in January. 

As Jill Jusko writes for Industry Week, "Despite possibly the roughest economic conditions...these manufacturing facilities pursued process and people improvements and achieved enviable performance metrics in numerous operational areas."

What seems particularly interesting, as one looks at past winners, is that often the manufacturing plants are relatively new, as in the case of TRW in 1995 or Aeroquip in 2000.  New facilities, new ways of working, new employees, and new culture seems to have been at least a part of the winning formula for many past winners. 

Industry experts suggest that it is perhaps an even greater achievement to transform an old facility, with a mature workforce, in an IBEW union setting into a plant capable of competing in today's world market -- much less a top ten.  Yet this is exactly what seems to have been happening in Sparta, TN. 

The Philips plant is one of Sparta, Tennessee's largest employers, and has been manufacturing flourescent lighting products since it was constructed in 1963.    Known as a high-volume producer of the products that we see when we look up in a Sam's Club, fast food restuarant or other retail store, the plant has reportedly faced high levels of competition from across the globe.

Facing that competition squarely, the Philips plant in Sparta looks like a survivor.  Employing some 250 people in the Sparta area, the facility remains a strong economic force in our community.   And, according to their application information for state training funds, they appear not only to be competing successfully with China and Mexico, but to be acquiring new competencies and capabilities at a fast pace as well. 

The Industry Week article states that the plant is both optimizing its commodity business and enhancing its flexibility through energy efficient lighting products as well as high-end, specialty flourescent fixtures. 

According to employees at the Sparta Career Center, a state-funded organization, Philips has been a source of much-needed hope in this year of economic struggle and double-digit unemployment.  

The center has processed some 450 applications and completed almost as many career readiness certificates for candidates hoping to find employment with the organization.  Said Stacy Kerr, an applicant in her mid-forties who scored a Gold on her Career Readiness Certificate, "I'd love to get on there.  Everyone says it's a great place to work and they seem to have their act together.  I need to work somewhere with a future and I think they have one." 

Good thoughts indeed.

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To see the full Philips story on Industry Week magazine, click here.

To see previous winners from our area: 

TRW (1995),
Aeroquip-Inoac (2000)