Dearborn Mid-West Co. by North American Constructors Journal

Dearborn Mid-West Company | 2

Dearborn Mid-West Company:

An Unmatched One-Stop Shop Dearborn Mid-West Company of Taylor, MI has designed and provided self-performing turnkey systems of unsurpassed life cycles for more than 60 years. Written by Kevin Doyle Produced by Stephen Marino

www.dmwcc.com

Dearborn Mid-West Company | 3

www.dmwcc.com

stablished in 1947, Dearborn Mid-West Company of Taylor, MI has designed and provided self-performing turnkey systems of unsurpassed life cycles to the automotive and industrial commercial markets. The company’s individualized design solutions for every project allows it to stand apart from its competitors. Proficiencies include Engineering, Fabrication, Installation, Commissioning and Life Cycle Improvement for material handling systems, as well as Tooling and Equipment installation and Construction Services. “Our reputation with our customers; our track record is one of being able to provide our customers with turnkey projects to help them succeed,” explains Todd Begerowski, the company’s Director of Field Operations. “We’re an Owner-Equipment manufacturer and that unique label allows us to serve our customers from design to manufacturing to installation in the field. We’re able to service our customers, ensuring the quality of our product. Our reach is global, not regional,” he continues. The company opened its new headquarters in Taylor, MI in 1998. That office alone employs 152 and generated $240 million revenue in 2018. It belongs to multiple

www.dmwcc.com

Dearborn Mid-West Company | 4 industry associations and has won multiple safety awards. The company was incorporated in 1995 and also maintains full-fledged operations in Queretar, Mexico and Hubei, China. “I oversee all installation activities whether regional, national or abroad. While China is its own operation in essence, it does give us a global reach but most of my work is in North America, Mexico and South America,” Begerowski explains. The company belongs to a number of key industry associations such as The Association of Union Contractors (TAUC) and the Michigan Conveyor Manufacturers Association (MCMA). Additionally, Begerowski serves as an alternate on the National Maintenance Agreement Policy Committee (NMAPC) and President of the MCMA.

Daily Operations In his role, Begerowski has oversight of all operations. “On the technical side, I’m responsible for all automotive, industrial and construction projects. I monitor estimates, schedules and installation activities and whether we will selfperform or sub-contract,” he says. “On the soft skills side, I’m responsible for all labor relations to our signatory trades at the local, regional and national levels.”

Dearborn Mid-West Company | 5

“

“We’re an Owner-Equipment manufacturer and that unique label allows us to serve our customers from design to manufacturing to installation in the field.” - Director of Installations Todd Begerowski

As is the case with every sector of the construction industry, combating manpower shortages caused by an aging workforce and recruiting the next generation of skilled workers is an ongoing struggle. “As a union contractor we’re directly tied to our partnership with all the national trades and our ability to provide a safe, well-trained workforce at any given time. We work diligently

with our labor partners to ensure this happens. Upon award of a project, we reach out to labor partners, then set up site-specific training for the members to ensure workers will bring the most value possible to the owner,” Begerowski states. The company finds quality talent at career fairs and provides internships at the high school and college levels. Begerowski says the company works

www.dmwcc.com

Dearborn Mid-West Company | 6

diligently to identify and retain talented individuals. DMW provides mentors to aid in the transition to a new job; offers formal training and continuing education opportunities in areas with direct relevance to an individual’s job; and encourages collaboration within peer groups. “We support a team effort. All the different avenues allow us to support one another and to provide a product that exceeds all others in our evolving industry,” Begerowski says. And evolution, after all is crucial to survival in the marketplace. Begerowski says companies need to be tuned into

www.dmwcc.com

the changes within the industry. “[Today] It’s more about partnership and collaboration with all parties involved. We nurture each project with a Cradle to Grave philosophy. From design to field implementation, from labor, to the CEO, everyone is tied together,” Begerowski says. “It’s not about a guy sitting in an office anymore, 200 miles or a continent away from the project relying on somebody else to ensure his success.” The company’s commitment to providing service and quality of the highest order has yielded recognition as 2017’s Conveyor Project of the Year by the UBC Conveyor Committee; and as a Top General Contractor for 2018

Dearborn Mid-West Company | 7

www.dmwcc.com

Dearborn Mid-West Company | 8 by Crain’s Business Detroit.

Safety Initiatives There is zero tolerance for unsafe working conditions or job site practices. The company takes a zero incident approach to accidents, injuries, illnesses and near misses and that is reflected in both its mandate – “Commitment without Compromise” – and its 2019 Experience Modification Rate (EMR) of 0.68. The company was presented a Zero Injury Safety Award (ZISA) by the National Maintenance Agreement Policy Committee for 60,861 work hours at the GM Fort Wayne, IN assembly plant in 2017. It also received the Michigan State Outstanding Safety Performance Award for outstanding safety performance in 2015. The company holds ISO:9001-2015 certification complying with standards to ensure its products and services meet customers’ requirements. It is also AISC certified as a structural steel fabricator and is an affiliate member of the American Welding Society (AWS). Safety planning starts for each job as soon as a project is secured, beginning with a thorough review of the job site to identify potential areas of concern. The goal, of course, is to “ensure that every person on every job goes home the same way they came to work,” Begerowski states.

www.dmwcc.com

The company’s superintendents take a lead role in the development and implementation of site-specific safety plans and have the authority to change plans on site should that be necessary. “Our site superintendents work with safety managers to create specific JSA’s. They help create the base plan and when there are changes in the field, they are well-versed in what documents need to be current and up to date,” Begerowski says. “We can plan everything on paper but when you get out on the job site, things can change rapidly. By having the superintendent in tune with that and really being in charge of the

Dearborn Mid-West Company | 9 Business District in 30 years. “Basically the building we’re putting up is occupying one of the last vacant parcels in the city. The city has struggled with blight over the last 20 years, so it’s good to be part of the resurgence of Detroit,” Begerowski says. When finished, the building will combine the elements of green living with the amenities of luxury living.

operation, we can review on a daily basis with manpower and make daily recommendations as observations are made,” he adds. The company does a deep dive on sub-contractors it brings aboard. Additionally, the company holds daily toolbox talks and daily subcontractor meetings as well as daily reviews to identify outliers and risk mitigation factors.

Key Projects The high-profile City Club Apartments green building certified development is the first conventionally financed mixed-use high-rise apartment development in Detroit’s Central

“It’s a new urban housing lifestyle option with unique features that include a rooftop sky park, a rooftop swimming pool along with multiple shops. It’s a neat little project, a pretty nice development,” Begerowski explains. The company has abundant work on the automotive side. “We’re really excited about being involved with the FIAT Chrysler Plant here in Detroit and the opportunities it presents. We’re also very involved with the launch of the Ford Bronco – we’ve been selected and are really excited to be part of that,” Begerowski notes. During the summer the company worked on re-tooling projects at Ford Chicago, Ford Michigan Assembly, Ford Ohio Truck, GM In Fort Wayne and Flint, Fiat-Chrysler and GM Truck, all smaller projects that help increase productivity on the line side.

www.dmwcc.com

Dearborn Mid-West Company | 10

www.dmwcc.com

Dearborn Mid-West Company | 11 Down The Road For more than 70 years, DMW has forged a reputation for providing service and projects of the highest quality by introducing new technology, expertise and services. It is a point of pride and, Begerowski says, it’s not going to change. “DMW products can be found worldwide. From automotive and parcel handling to industrial manufacturing systems, DMW’s experience translates into flawless, ontime and complete turnkey material handling systems. DMW’s ‘Team Approach’ to simultaneous engineering, manufacturing, and testing assures

equipment reliability on day one of the launch.” he says. “Recognizing the mindset of partnership and collaboration to bring value to the customer,” he says, summing up the company’s key to success and elevator pitch in a single sentence. The 25-year industry veteran loves the work. “I enjoy dealing with the daily challenges and being part of a team that plans, designs and builds while working in a collaborative environment both internally and with our customers,” he concludes.