Manufacturing in Burke: steeped in history

By definition, manufacturing is the use of machines, tools and labor to produce goods for use or sale. Today when most people hear the word manufacturing they tend to think of the traditional industries that were popularized, especially in this region of the country, in the early to mid-1900s. While these industries, such as furniture and textiles, still have a place in today’s economy there are also many new types of manufacturing that mix human labor with advanced technology.

For more than a century North Carolina has been a national leader in manufacturing. For decades in the western part of the state, especially Burke and surrounding counties, manufacturing jobs in industries such as furniture and textiles were abundant. Due to increased competition and jobs moving abroad, these industries have undergone a decline in our state in recent years. However, they are far from gone.

Over the next four weeks, The News Herald, in partnership with Burke Development, Inc. (BDI), will explore the current manufacturing landscape in Burke County. We will describe some of Burke’s manufacturing industries including food and beverage, textiles, machining and furniture. We will also describe some of the emerging trends and biggest challenges in each industry. Readers will gain insight into the various ways that these businesses are diversifying and thinking outside the box in order to adapt to the changing marketplace, and not just survive in today’s economic climate, but thrive.

Manufacturing first became popular in the south in the late 1800s when industrialization was seen as a way to revive the South’s economy following the Civil War. Mills were primarily used for the production of cotton and North Carolina quickly established itself as a leader, accounting for more than one-third of the number of spindles among the six leading southern states. As mills became tired of producing cheap cotton, they diversified and by 1927, furniture manufacturing employed 15,000 people in the state.

For decades, textiles and furniture, along with tobacco, were considered the “Big Three” of North Carolina industries; however, as globalization took effect in the last part of the 20th century, industries that had found cheap labor in the South following the Civil War were now again seeking cheaper labor and moving their operations abroad. In 1975, textile, apparel and furniture industries accounted for 54.6 percent of the state’s manufacturing employees. By 2004 this number had decreased to only 28 percent.

Although manufacturing is no longer the largest employer in North Carolina it is still very significant in Burke County. Esri forecasts for 2010 showed that Burke County had more than 9,000 employees working in manufacturing. That is nearly one third, or 27 percent, of the employed workforce.

The report also listed 141 businesses in the manufacturing sector in Burke. The most common of these are food and beverage, textiles, fabricated metal, transportation equipment and furniture. There are many positives to working in these industries. Companies are often willing to provide training for new hires and they have higher than average wage levels.

“Manufacturers are some of the best employers in the area because of the higher wage levels and the benefits,” said Misti Humphries, project manager at BDI. “All full-time employees typically have great benefits, including health insurance and retirement plans, even for entry level positions.”

The job description for an entry-level position in manufacturing today has changed from what many workers knew it as 30 or even 10 years ago. The businesses have higher level technology, and machines are computerized. For years in American manufacturing, an employee’s job description focused on one repetitive task. Today, workers are being trained on various computer-driven machines and are asked to multi-task.

Many of these changes are due to companies trying to stay competitive in today’s global economy. Despite the challenges, such as overseas competition, businesses in Burke are experiencing steady growth.

“We are out in the community visiting these companies day in and day out,” said BDI President Scott Darnell. “From interacting with industry leaders, we know that the pulse of their business is great. Many tell us that there is opportunity for more business if they would take it on, but they don’t always have the capacity for a heavier workload.”

“Many people think that manufacturing is on its way out, but from what we see talking to these businesses, the opposite is true,” added Darnell. “An overwhelming number of manufacturing companies in Burke are looking for ways to expand. The outlook for our existing industries is extremely positive right now.”

The economic impact of these companies is vital to the Burke County economy. According to the 2007 Economic Census, which is conducted every five years and evaluates local economies, the value these manufacturing establishments add to Burke County is $965 million, and together they provide an annual payroll of $307 million to Burke County employees.

“Manufacturing has been the backbone of America for more than 100 years, and we have a very strong manufacturing base here that has been a substantial provider to Burke County,” continued Humphries. “The industry is constantly evolving and changing but we have to work together as a community to preserve and protect it, to figure out ways that we can nurture its growth.”

The feature series, “Manufacturing in Burke,” is the product of a partnership between The News Herald with Burke Development Inc. The mission of BDI is to promote economic growth, innovation and sustainability in Burke County in order to improve the standard of living and well-being of its citizens. BDI works with industry leaders, site selection consultants, government agencies and other entities to facilitate expansion and development strategies for existing businesses and recruit target industries to Burke County. For more information about BDI, visit www.burkedevinc.com.