LAI International wins Manufacturer-of-the-Year Award

LAI International, Inc., a strategic supplier of precision components and subassemblies for original equipment manufacturers, won a Manufacturer-of-the-Year Award from the Arizona Manufacturing Council.

LAI International was recognized as Outstanding Small-to-Medium Manufacturer of the Year at the AMC's manufacturing summit and awards event May 20.

"A big part of the magic of the company is in our people and the way in which they work our processes," Stewart Cramer, president of LAI International, said. "We encourage people to be creative and practice continuous improvement. Its part of our mantra to do everything a little better than we did it yesterday and repeat that tomorrow."

LAI was one of six firms named as finalists for the award. The annual awards seek to recognize the best in manufacturing in the state across a spectrum of industries.

"One of the things we are very proud of is that we are the first manufacturer in the world to accomplish Nadcap certification for conventional machining," Cramer said. "It's a token of how well we are regarded internationally that we were selected, and what it means to our customers is that we do things extremely well and with a great deal of discipline."

Cramer was accompanied by John Rogers, vice president of operations and chief operating officer, Joe Wagner, vice president of manufacturing excellence and site leader of LAI Southwest Operations, and Matt Kalina, Director of Strategic Marketing in representing LAI International at the awards event.

More than 300 representatives of the state's manufacturing and business community attended the event, which featured remarks from Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer, State Representative Andy Tobin, newly elected speaker of the Arizona House , and U.S. Representatives Trent Franks, Paul Gosar and Ben Quayle.

"The event made clear that Arizona has a prosperous and growing manufacturing sector," Glenn Hamer, president and CEO of the Arizona Chamber of Commerce and Industry, said. "All of our state's manufacturers, large and small, will play a leading role in guiding our state to brighter days."