As Thanksgiving approaches, A.R.E. Manufacturing is taking a moment to reflect on what we’re most thankful for: our employees.
ARE was started by a husband-and-wife team in 1980. Our first full-time employee came on board in 1984, and today we proudly employ 40+ individuals. In the machining world, a lot has changed since we started – the introduction of CNC machines, the size of our shop, and the amount of sales we need to break even. But the one thing that remains the same is the importance of our employees and the relationships we have built.
We’re especially proud of the people who have built their careers with ARE. Over the years, we have celebrated several 30-year anniversaries, but last June was the first time we got to honor someone for 40 years at ARE! Currently, we have six employees with more than 30 years of service, and one-third of our workforce are what we call “Lifers” - employees who have been with ARE for more than 20 years.
That kind of longevity is unusual. The median tenure for manufacturing employees in the U.S. is 5 years, while ARE’s average employee tenure is 12.8 years.
Those numbers represent much more than years on a calendar. They represent a family that works together and learns from each other. A family that takes pride in their craftsmanship and commits themselves to doing the job right. A family that strives to pass on its knowledge to the next generation and build community.
This November, we’re thankful for everyone who has been a part of the ARE journey. Thank you for helping us reach 46 years—and counting.