Interview with Randy Zeimet, Triangle Manufacturing President
In today’s rapidly evolving manufacturing landscape, staying ahead of the curve requires innovation, dedication and a keen understanding of customer needs. Under the leadership of its President, Randy Zeimet, Triangle Manufacturing is a prime example of such dedication to innovation and customer-centric strategies.
“We always seek the best possible way to make a customer product, focusing on efficiency, even if it’s not the easiest approach,” says Zeimet. By designing and building complex tools, Triangle reduces costs and changeover times, providing customers with simple solutions that are complex behind the scenes. Zeimet continues, "We focus on reducing waste in our manufacturing systems by leveraging our tooling design and automation knowledge. Through automation, operators are no longer tied to a single machine. Instead, they become 'managers' of the entire manufacturing process, which allows them to focus on product quality and efficiency improvements."
“If customers are having any issues, it’s not uncommon for us to provide customer product testing to identify and resolve potential product issues before they reach the production line. If they identify an issue in the field, we have complete traceability,” noted Zeimet. “We are dedicated to our customers’ success and have intricate systems in place to mitigate any risks on product lines.”
“Innovation drives Triangle Manufacturing, and one technology that allows for extensive innovation is our strategic application of 3D printers. Not only do 3D printers reduce production time, but they also reduce assembly time and the cost of parts for customers." Zeimet shared. "Engineers and Toolmakers are replacing fabricated and machined metal parts with complex single piece designs printed from composite materials. Once those designs are proven, production operators can then print replacements on demand."
Triangle Manufacturing is also constantly working hard to promote sustainability in the workplace. “We recycle 100% of our raw materials that go through here,” says Zeimet. "We're focused on replacing traditional oil-based lubricants with water-based lubricants that are environmentally friendly, recyclable, and engineered to reduce common issues in our manufacturing processes. We’ve also upgraded our compressed air system and seen a decrease in system operating cost of over 40%. As part of that upgrade, we’re leveraging the heat generated from the compressed air system to manage the temperature inside the plant during the winter." Zeimet ensures that Triangle continuously seeks more environmentally friendly options for Triangle's tools and production methods.
To ensure Triangle Manufacturing continues to lead in our markets, Zeimet is a crucial member of Vistage Worldwide and a CEO peer group. Additionally, Zeimet is an ardent reader and educates himself with trending leadership books, trade publications, blogs and podcasts. Within Triangle Manufacturing, Zeimet facilitates strategic summits where Triangle’s leadership team reflects on all aspects of the business, including the voice of the customer, team member engagement and trends in the raw material market. “We have a one-page business strategy, Policy Deployment Matrix, that really explains our strategy,” he stated. "This framework guides Triangle’s teams on project prioritization and resource allocation. We utilize project management tools like Agile and continuously monitor project progress and adjust strategies based on real-time data and market conditions to maintain agility."
From a young age, Zeimet was good at math, liked to work with his hands and enjoyed problem-solving. These interests took him to General Motors Institute, now known as Kettering University. Zeimet had two co-op sponsors, one of them being at a foundry. “That [opportunity] was an outstanding, eye-opening experience in a manufacturing environment,” he recalled. “That was really my first time in an engineering world.”
After graduating with his Bachelor's in Manufacturing Systems, Zeimet’s career as an engineer officially began at CMI, a foundry company. He continued at businesses like INTERMET and Mercury Marine, where he worked on product design and development. Zeimet joined Triangle Manufacturing in 2008, starting in tooling design and automation as the Director of Production. He was promoted to Tool Room Manager and Maintenance Manager, gaining extensive experience in troubleshooting and fabrication. His career progressed to Engineering Manager and eventually Vice President of Engineering. In 2023, Triangle Manufacturing promoted Zeimet to President.
Working as an engineer for various companies and under numerous leaders has shaped Zeimet’s people-centric business philosophy, emphasizing the importance of valuing and empowering individuals to drive success. “You have to have good people and a good team,” Zeimet explained. “You’re only going to get that if you build a good culture and you’re good to people—fair and honest. We’re focused on continuing to build a great culture, intentionally designed to support and grow our customers and our team, and I think that focus on culture has also helped me be the leader that I want to be.”
