Married couple John and Ellen Kuber launched their metal stamping and fabrication business, Accord Manufacturing, on April 1, 1989. Leading up to its inception, John himself was a Journeyman toolmaker by trade and Vice President of a metal stamping shop, but had been let go from his position. While between jobs, some of John’s previous customers contacted him directly to push him back into business because of how much they enjoyed working with him. In response, the Kubers bought a series of metal stamping presses along with a 9000-square-foot building in Lannon, Wisconsin.
A second 108,000-square-foot location in Jackson a decade later gave way to further growth and Accord Manufacturing stands today with a rich history behind it and exciting prospects ahead.
Current president Paul Kuber, son of John and Ellen, got his start at Accord in August 1998 and continues his parents’ legacy to this day, especially following John’s retirement in 2020. Paul says that, in a family-owned business like Accord, one can achieve a high level of commitment from customers and employees alike. “The business literally becomes an extension of the family,” he says, and it brings a high level of authenticity with those groups that bigger companies can often struggle to emulate. The family name is not just a part of business history; it fundamentally adds to the way that Accord has done business.
The company’s smaller size means that it can be much more flexible for its customers, a flexibility that communicates how seriously the team takes clients’ needs and does everything possible to make their goals a reality. This in turn instills a high level of trust. Clients regularly reach out to Accord in a project’s early stages because they are familiar with the firm and know that Accord will do whatever it takes to see a project through to success.
Director of Manufacturing and Business Development, Tom Goodall, says that the Accord approach to customer service is one of proactive communication. The Accord team reaches out to its customers with any updates or issues and uses data-driven insights like KPIs (Key Performance Indicators) and customer satisfaction scores to help track and improve the customer experience. The team also provides comprehensive after-sales support so that a relationship doesn’t end when an order ships. “We support [clients] in all areas so that we can become part of their vision for the future of the company,” says Goodall.
Accord has seen very exciting developments in the past few years. In 2019, it partnered with Alligator Holdings, a group of manufacturing companies across sectors including medical, bioscience, and more. This development led to Accord closing one of its plants and moving operations to its Jackson, Wisconsin location to better serve its customer base.
Kuber says that being part of the Alligator Manufacturing Group is a feather in the cap of Accord. Its identity is primarily that of a metal stamper and fabricator, but within its family of companies, there is not a lot of manufacturing that Accord doesn’t touch in one way or another. “If we don’t have it, we have the backing to get it and go after it,” he says, which is both encouraging for leadership and helps shape the path the company takes.
In recent years, Accord has also invested in a fair amount of new equipment for its various services, including a new fiber laser, an additional press brake, and a full overhaul of its welding department. The department now includes important tools like three new robotic weld cells, a new overhead crane, and a state-of-the-art air handling system with climate control. These improvements are helping to bolster its fabrication capabilities and its considerable suite of services and offerings while keeping the company competitive in the industry.
More than just the equipment, however, the company has done considerable work recently to ensure its vision is completely aligned. Accord has established a new set of core values as well as a brand-new mission statement that seeks to give clients a better idea of the values the brand represents. These translate into values that fit the name: Adaptability, Collaboration, Commitment, Optimism, Respect, and Dependability, values that clients know firsthand as synonymous with the brand and its one-of-a-kind presence in the metal sector.
Amidst these exciting new developments, Goodall says that the manufacturing industry is facing a number of challenges and trends arising from recent events this year. These include supply chain challenges, the digital transformation of the industry, general economic uncertainty, and ongoing shortages of components, materials, and electrical parts that are complicating production and delivery across the sector.
Goodall says that, by 2025, the industry will see more advancements in digital transformation like smart factories that will promote the development of awareness and foresight, in turn allowing manufacturers to respond intuitively to changes in demand. Predictive maintenance will further help to identify potential issues before any can occur, which will provide leadership with a greater understanding of the impact of workplace actions before they are made. “Accord is pursuing digital transformation initiatives to build resilience and increase efficiency,” Goodall says.
Although these challenges have been felt by Accord throughout 2024, there is room for optimism heading into a new year. Accord has strategically targeted a diverse customer base and will continue to pursue industries it is not currently a part of. Whether new industries or products, anything different that can be served by Accord will remain on the company’s radar while still ensuring that its longtime clients are given the premier Accord experience.
The company will continue to invest in new equipment as well, especially since its recent additions have been adding to its success. Acquisitions are always part of the internal plan at Accord, and the company will always remain open to welcoming more businesses into the fold. “Organic growth is always healthy, but acquisitions advance the company further and faster,” Kuber says. Time will tell what the year 2025 and beyond will bring to the metal industry and in what ways Accord will adapt to these times.
Across its 35 years of business (and counting), Accord has identified and continually strengthened the values that have driven it forward to success: adaptability, a strong company culture, a focus on customers, continuous improvement, talent management and elevation, and understanding the inevitability of change and being willing to evolve with the market and embrace new technologies.
Kuber says that, when it comes to company leadership, mistakes are an opportunity in disguise, so it is ever important to analyze and learn from them when they happen. Strong employee and customer relationships will always be a cornerstone of this company, as well as building trust and loyalty continually among these groups. These are all fundamental parts of the family approach that Accord Manufacturing has made paramount to its identity for more than three decades.
