Precision Optical Fabrication
Bandon, Oregon
Founded 1976
80+ Employees
Summit Truck Body’s Journey with OMEP
Summit Truck Body, an employee-owned company in Oregon and Washington, has grown rapidly in recent years, producing a range of truck bodies and generating $30 million annually. With its facility at capacity, Summit turned to OMEP to support an ambitious expansion plan. Over six years, OMEP partnered closely with Summit on strategic growth, facility design, and workforce development. Together they selected land, designed new assembly lines, guided permitting and construction, and developed new fixtures and processes. OMEP also coached rising leaders and trained staff in continuous improvement, embedding a culture of problem-solving across the company. These efforts have resulted in a 35–40% productivity increase for three consecutive years, a workforce that grew from 25 to 50 employees, and a $23 million investment in a new facility and tooling. With its expanded capacity and clearer mission, Summit is now positioned to serve wider markets and launch new products while reinforcing its employee-owner culture.
40%
Increase in Productivity
50 Employees
Job Growth & Retention
$23 Million
For New Facility and Tooling
Background
As of Q1 2024, Summit Truck Body has around 50 employees in Oregon and Washington. Summit generates about $30 million a year in revenue. They build on average six truck bodies a day of mixed model composition: dry freight, refrigerated vans, curtain-side vans, and flatbeds.
The company has been growing rapidly since it was purchased by the employees as an Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP) about seven years ago. To date, its primary market has been the Pacific Northwest.
The Situation
OMEP has worked closely with Summit for six years. Four years ago, Summit started thinking about expanding into new geographic markets in Northern California and southwest through Phoenix.
However, their facility was at capacity and completely consumed by their existing client base in the Northwest.
The Solution
Summit decided to take a bold step and build a new facility that would triple its capacity. This would allow them to serve the current market while expanding geographically.
OMEP helped Summit choose a piece of land, design the three new assembly lines, and worked closely with the design and construction team through building and permitting. OMEP has helped develop new fixtures and processes, established training for the growing team, and coached the rising leaders within the company. OMEP has been present for each major step and initiative Summit has taken on its growth path.
The Results
- Cost savings: Hundreds of thousands
- Culture: Summit clarified its values, mission, and strategy
- Productivity: Increase of 35-40% in each of the previous 3 years
- Job growth/retention: From 25 people in 2021 to 50 in 2023
- Investment: $23 million for the new facility and all tooling
- New markets: Wider geographical area reaching South
- New products: OMEP is currently helping Summit design a new product for a new market
- Continuous Improvement: OMEP has trained staff on Continuous Improvement methodologies and tools
“Summit Truck Body is proudly 100% employee-owned and over the past several years has grown dramatically, capitalizing on opportunities within the industry and market. That the value of the company is shared by all employee-owners makes the day-to-day operational decisions all the more relevant to each member of this incredible team. To assist in this daily journey, OMEP has been a valued part of the Summit team over the years. We appreciate the help that OMEP provides and attribute a measurable amount of Summit’s success to their assistance. In fact, I’d say it has been invaluable.”
Ted Croce
President and CEO