Manufacturing Transformed: Real Shops, Real Stories

37: The 3rd Generation Takes the Reigns at Gurecky Manufacturing


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Gurecky Manufacturing, a third-generation family-owned machine shop, has evolved from humble beginnings in a garage to a 42,000-square-foot facility with over 60 employees.

Founded in 1983 by Kellen Montpetit's grandfather, the company has long served the oil and gas sector, though recent efforts aim to diversify into aerospace and other industries.

Kellen, now part of the ownership group, and Andrew Sulak, a longtime employee who feels like family, share their journey of modernizing the business while preserving its legacy.

Despite its size and complexity, the company maintains a close-knit culture, with many employees wearing multiple hats and contributing across departments.

Kellen and Drew both came from non-manufacturing backgrounds but found their place in the business through a mix of opportunity, burnout, and a desire for stability.

A major turning point came with the decision to implement ProShop ERP. The previous system was paper-heavy, lacked quality management integration, and couldn't support remote access.

ProShop changed all that, streamlining tasks, improving traceability, and enabling digital operations. The transition was challenging but ultimately freed up the team to focus on strategic growth.

Quoting and estimating have also become more strategic. The post-COVID landscape has thinned out local competition, increasing demand and forcing Gurecky to handle more work in-house.

Their "first in, first out" philosophy ensures fairness and reliability, and their commitment to on-time delivery remains strong. Customer relationships have deepened thanks to ProShop's transparency.

Clients are impressed by the system's accessibility and real-time data, which helps resolve discrepancies and build trust. The ERP system has become the foundation for future growth. The shift to ProShop also sparked a cultural transformation.

Transparency and collaboration have increased, bridging the gap between the shop floor and the front office. Veteran machinists, initially resistant to change, have slowly embraced the system, especially as they see their feedback valued and documented through process development tools.

Younger employees, more accustomed to digital systems, adapted quickly. The team now feels more unified, with clearer communication and shared goals. Ultimately, Gurecky Manufacturing's journey reflects the power of thoughtful modernization.

By blending legacy values with cutting-edge tools, they've positioned themselves for continued success, being ready to pass the torch to the next generation while staying true to the principles that built the business.

LinkedIn: Kellen Montpetit - https://www.linkedin.com/in/kellen-montpetit-8a363097/

LinkedIn: Andrew Sulak - https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrew-sulak-a076a9b7/

Gurecky Manufacturing - https://www.gurecky.com

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Manufacturing Transformed: Real Shops, Real StoriesBy Paul Van Metre


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