Steven Worthington Globe Fire Sprinkler Corporation
22 MiMfg Magazine September 2018
INDUSTRY
Member Spotlight
Steven Worthington Globe Fire Sprinkler Corporation
Member since May 1992 • Employs 250 Michigan workers • Learn more at www . globesprinkler . com
Small and mid-sized manufacturers are in a constant fight for survival . They compete every day with the lowest cost locations in the world and with global giants of industry . Balancing on a razor-thin wire between success and failure , these companies succeed through the determination of their leaders and the pride their talent takes in the products they make . The team at Globe Fire Sprinkler Corporation understands the weight of this delicate balance better than most ; not only is every direct competitor at least six times their size , but “ when you ’ re in the business of saving lives , you can ’ t be satisfied with anything less than a perfect product — every single time .”
“ We ’ re in the life safety business so every day we go to work understanding the products we make aren ’ t just stuff , they can be the difference between life and death ,” said Steven Worthington , president & CEO of the Standish-based manufacturer . “ There ’ s no better feeling than knowing you ’ ve made something which helps keep someone alive . That ’ s the ultimate feeling of pride .”
Globe Fire Sprinkler Corporation , in its current form , is the longest active sprinkler brand manufacturer in the world — their history dates back to 1914 — and is celebrating its 30th year being owned and operated by Worthington ’ s family . While 250 employees may not sound small , with some global competitors being 10 or 15 times their size , the company stays competitive by taking a small business approach to every decision they make .
“ When you ’ re David facing multiple Goliaths , you have to approach what you do differently — we ’ re not outspending them , so what we bring to the table must be special ,” Worthington explained . “ We are responsive and proactive , we ’ re mindful of the relationships we build with our suppliers and customers , and we put an extra emphasis on adaptability , processes and efficiencies . For us , everything comes down to quality through innovation .”
Housed within Globe ’ s 160,000 + square-foot facility is a top-of-the-line R & D and testing location in which the company plans to continue investing over the next three-to-five years . According to Worthington , the more active a manufacturer is in planning for the future , the better it can compete in the present .
As he offered , “ you have to continue testing — the only way to compete is to innovate and too often manufacturers only tweak and copy each other . We ’ re focused on developing game-changing products and we ’ re using all the resources at our disposal .”
Those resources include ones available to many small manufacturers — local and state associations and pro-manufacturing organizations like MMA . With safety being a collaborative effort across the industry , opportunities to network with peers and stay informed on ever-changing best practices are essential .
“ Competing isn ’ t just about staying in business , it ’ s about continuing to provide high quality and innovative products that help save lives ,” Worthington adds . “ Globe has a 104-year legacy to live up to . We ’ re committed to doing what it takes through innovation to succeed over the next 100 years .” 6