Both Omega Apparel and Shiroki North America are seeking employees for new product lines.
Shiroki will need more people to help launch a new door frame line, and Omega will be searching for new employees to fill out a new line that gives a nod to the locations history. They will soon begin manufacturing shirts.
"We are in the process of adding jobs at our Smithville location, said Shiroki Plant Manager Gina Haley. “We are already producing a groundbreaking aluminum door frame for the Cadillac CTS, as well as a conventional steel frame for the for the Subaru Outback and the Subaru sedan. We plan to launch a new door frame for the Nissan Maxima by early 2015. We now have about 350 hourly workers. We have added about 40 employees this week. We hope to add close to 100 more jobs in the near future,” she said.
Meanwhile, Omega owner Dean Wegner said the facility, located in the old shirt factory building downtown, while retaining its military contracts, will expand into a familiar area, commercial shirt production.
“It's always been our plan to grow, diversify, and to create more jobs, but there's been a little speedbump in the way in that current military contracts have been shrinking,” Wegner told the Review. “That seems to be typical across-the-board for most defense contractors right now, so back in January we began looking for more opportunities. In looking at commercial businesses we found out they were going to be able to get into the shirt business. We will have military contracts and some commercial customers as well. The shirt line should create about 25 more jobs right away, and it should create more jobs in the future. I will not sleep well until we have diversified our business enough that we don't have to depend on the military contracts.
Shiroki applicants may apply at Shiroki in Smithville, or at the Career Center in Smithville from 9 a.m. until 1 p.m. every Tuesday. For more information call HG Staffing at 615-215-1482 or after 5 p.m. call 931-743-6627.
To apply for a job with Omega Apparel, visit the facility at 215 South Mountain Street in Smithville or call 615-597-8889.