Phil Anderson is director of production at Butler Technologies and co-chairman of the Tri-County Manufacturing Consortium, an organization that brings together employees and owners of manufacturing companies within the tricounty area.

If there's one thing we've learned during the past year, it's this: It's pretty tough to network on the computer.

Ask Phil Anderson, director of production at Butler Technologies and co-chairman of the Tri-County Manufacturing Consortium, an organization that brings together employees and owners of manufacturing companies within the tricounty area.

This past year hasn't been easy for its members to meet, but with things opening up again, Anderson said it's time to begin plant visits again.

Those visits are important because they speak directly to the mission of the consortium and to life here in Butler County.

“We recognize that the sharing of knowledge, the sharing of best practices, it's just going to ensure that the foundation of manufacturing in Butler County stays here, to keep good jobs here,” Anderson said.

“It's just a great community, great schools, great place to raise a family. I get that out of the Manufacturing Consortium that as long as we can help each other out, we're always going to provide those jobs and keep that sense of community and culture that we have here in Butler County.”

The consortium is comprised of manufacturers from Armstrong, Butler and Indiana counties, and it's not just owners. Employees may also join.

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Mary Salony of the manufacturing consortium. Seb Foltz/Butler Eagle 06/16/21

Phil Anderson is director of production at Butler Technologies and co-chair of the Tri-County Manufacturing Consortium, an organization that brings together employees and owners of manufacturing companies within the tricounty area.