Frank Schaffer, Rachel Anderson, Keith Anderson, Connie Anderson and Lionell Anderson are seen with their business sign on Tuesday afternoon in Centralia.
Frank Schaffer discusses the new powder coating equipment that Anderson’s Fabrication recently purchased on Tuesday afternoon in Centralia.
During a time when there is a major lack of skilled workers in the U.S., the owners of Anderson’s Fabrication have taken to training their own — starting with their children.
“We’ve been here since the beginning,” said Rachel Anderson, who is the daughter of owners Lionell and Connie Anderson. “We went to school, but during the summer we would be here.”
Anderson’s Fabrication Inc. is run by four Anderson family members, plus one long-term business partner, Frank Schaffer, who doubles as the sales manager. The business opened up shop in Centralia in 2001.
“There is a big lack of skilled manufacturers in general in this country,” Schaffer said. “So a lot of companies, like this company or any kind of manufacturing companies, have a hard time finding people who have those kind of skills. So these kids grew up around it.”
The Andersons expect their son, Keith, to eventually take over the business.
Lionell noted that he brings in students from Centralia College and area high schools to tour the shop and job shadow. He said that other than looking for Washington Association of Building Officials (WABO) certified welders, he hires based on word of mouth and work ethic.
“We’re not rich with fabricators here,” Lionell said.
While Lionell has been in the sheet metal industry since 1979, he has trained his family in the business along the way.
“With a small business, they rely on you,” Rachel said. “We rely on every single person we have working together to achieve the goal. It’s more focused on the individual. (You’re not just) a person sitting there and we don’t care. We care.”
Since it opened, the business has grown to 23 employees. Anderson’s Fabrication welds with copper, brass, aluminium, steel and plastic. The business serves the transportation industry, the automotive aftermarket, furniture manufacturers, equipment manufacturers and even makes earring holders, display parts and parts for scuba gear.
“If he doesn’t know how to do it, he knows someone who knows how to do it,” Connie said of Lionell’s fabrication skills. “He is the Michael Jordan of metals, is what I always say.”
Most recently, the business added powder-coating to its list of services. Powder coating is a finish that is tougher than conventional paint and mostly used for production parts.
“The nice thing about powder coating is if there is any kind of imperfection, you can just wash it off as part of the process from the beginning,” Schaffer said.
The business sits on nearly four acres that includes various shops for fabrication work, living quarters and enough room for the owners to rent out space to five other businesses.
Lionell is president of the company. However, the family titles are a little vague. When asked what their title was, each family member looked at each other until they found their way to something that seemed appropriate.
Connie is the president, vice president, secretary and treasurer of the company. Or, as she describes it, “everything Lionell doesn’t want to do.”
Rachel, is the receptionist, but her duties may change depending on the day.
“She does everything that I don’t want to do and Lionell doesn’t want to do,” Connie added, jokingly.
