MEMBER HIGHLIGHT..SCHWARTZ MACHINE COMPANY
70 Years Young: Schwartz Machine Company Keeping it “All in the Family”! In 1951, 44 year old Edward Schwartz founded Schwartz Machine Company (SMC). He purchased a 5,800 square foot building in Warren, MI, and began his precision machine shop services for the automotive industry. He purchased machines and provided jig boring and surface grinding, lathe work, spindle drilling, and was planning to support short run production work — all focused on providing precision machining for prototype products. In 1953, Edward expanded SMC to manage the increase in demand. Twenty years later called for another expansion, SMC doubled in size. That year Edward decided to keep SMC “all in the family” and brought his son Robert in to manage the company. Over the next few years, SMC purchased additional machinery and Robert bought ½ of the company. Around 1978, Robert saw an opportunity “to go West young man,” and began machining in San Diego to support aerospace and government laboratories. Robert completed his buyout of SMC in 1996.
Recognition, growth and opportunities continued in 1998, when Schwartz was awarded the GM Motorsports Winners Circle Award by supporting the Aurora V8 blocks — Indy and Heads for the SB2 NASCAR engines. Racing became an integral part of the Schwartz mantra as a result of the perfectionism in precision machining for race engines. In 2001, Schwartz supported both LeMANS and Daytona 24-hour races with General Motors. As Robert grew the operation, he welcomed his two daughters to the family business; they became majority stockholders of the company in 2003. SMC continued its love for racing, collaborating with GM, earning them the Driver’s & Manufacturer’s Cup in the Nextel Cup Series in 2006. SMC also supported the R07 NASCAR block and head machining operations to support GM in its racing division. In 2020, Robert reitred. He was aware of the need for diversity and inclusion in business and his thoughts were “spot on,” as very few machining businesses are run or led by women — let alone owned. Thus, his oldest daughter, Ms. Cheryl Schwartz-Zeglin took over the business and was named CEO of SMC. Cheryl has been instrumental in championing the WBENC Certification — validating that a business is at least 51% owned, controlled, operated, and managed by a woman or women. Full certification 8 │ OESA News - 2021 Third Quarter
