DETROIT—Detroit Manufacturing Systems, a certified, minority-owned Tier 1 auto supplier, specializing in the manufacturing and assembly of vehicle modules such as instrument panels, plans to repurpose its existing facility here.
The project is expected to generate a total private investment of $31.9 million and create 225 jobs, resulting in a $1.5 million Jobs Ready Michigan Program performance-based grant that will be used to assist with training needs. In addition, the city of Detroit plans to offer personnel, financial or economic assistance in support of the project.
“At Detroit Manufacturing Systems, we are creating a culture of serving and empowering others to grow, rise, and give back to accelerate a positive change in the world. That is at the core of who we are at Detroit Manufacturing Systems, which is why we are so excited and appreciative of this grant from the State of Michigan,” says Bruce Smith, chairman and CEO of Detroit Manufacturing Systems. “This grant enables us to invest in people in an underserved area of Detroit providing economic and growth opportunities for talented individuals who will rise with us as an organization.”
A large focus for this project is the transformation of the company’s existing and new workforce into the next generation of skilled workers, state officials noted. This investment in new technology will result in skilled operators of advanced machinery and equipment, robotics and other automation technology.
This project aligns with MEDC’s strategic focus to support and grow businesses at the intersection of mobility and automotive manufacturing. In addition, a majority of the jobs created as a result of this project will be entry level positions, bringing new, highly-skilled opportunities to Detroit residents and offering a path to higher-wage jobs, state officials explained.
Headquartered in Detroit, the company has more than 800 employees in Michigan and 1,200 in the U.S. According to state officials, DMS secured long-term contracts with new and existing customers, which has vastly expanded its customer base and diversified its product offerings.
