AME celebrates major manufacturing honour - The Ararat Advertiser-Friday, May 28,2004.

AME Systems harness maker June Walker and team leader Sharolyn Rattray, front, show a certificate recognizing the company’s induction into a Victorian Manufacturing Industry Hall of Fame with Business Development Manager Chris Carthew and Director Peter Carthew.  

AME Systems induction into the Victorian Manufacturing Hall Of Fame is being seen as a tribute to the Ararat company's 250 staff.

Company director Peter Carthew said this week AME's induction recognised the quality work and dedication of the entire team.

State Manufacturing and Export Minister Tim Holding inducted AME and eight other Victorian manufacturing businesses at a gala dinner last week.

The hall of fame recognises outstanding achievements in Victorian manufacturing. Only businesses who have shown a sustained level of excellence in manufacturing are inducted.

To gain this high accolade, AME Systems was nominated by the Australian Industry Group. This nomination was then seconded by Innovation, Industry and Regional Development Department general manager Robert Jones before Mr Holding made the final decision.

Nominated businesses must qualify in a series of strict quality fields and have won at least three previous industry or business awards.

Peter Carthew said the company was now looking to plan a celebration for the whole staff.

He said everyone at the manufacturing facility had a hands-on role in making the business a success and it was their input which had earned this honour.

He said AME's success had been through having all the staff work together to satisfy their customers with a world class operation.

"But we still haven't achieved what we want to be," Peter Carthew said.

"We know that we can still get better."

Business Development Manager Chris Carthew said while the company still had its sights set on improving, the induction was a sign that it was on the right track.

He said a vital part of AME's policy was regularly meeting with all levels of staff and allowing them to take part in the decision making and problem solving process.

The induction marks a major milestone in the company's 30 year history.

The company's growth over the past 10 years follows Ararat's own growth trends for the past decade-indicating their strong link to the rural city's development.

The company manufactures electrical wiring systems which are ready to be fitted to trucks, motorbikes, cars, military equipment and marine craft.

Chris Carthew said the company's growth was largely due to the growth of the transport industry in Australia. "We've got to thank the truck drivers," he said. "We should all be standing out the front of the YMCA and cheering on the trucks!"

AME's FALL AND RISE

ARARAT-AME Systems has come a long way since starting out as Carthew Travaglini Australia in 1977.

The business started operating out of a Melbourne garage before moving to Ararat in 1979.

In 1989 major US company Packard bought a major share in the business and changed the focus to passenger vehicle wiring.

In August, 1992 the Packard CTA operation, which employed 160 people, was forced to shut down after it was unable to secure a contract with General Motors.

Later that year the Carthews began rebuilding the business as AME Systems.

In 1992 the business employed between 20 and 30 staff but by 2001 had grown to about 100.

In 2002 that number had grown a further 50 per cent to about 150 and the business now employs 250 staff who work 24 hours a day over three shifts.