Keeping up with product demand and the challenges of government oversight were recurring themes as a panel of local manufacturers on Tuesday helped the Kalispell Chamber of Commerce kick off a month of manufacturing-related tours and events.

In recognition of National Manufacturing Day on Oct. 7, the Chamber and Kalispell Manufacturers Alliance have increased the number of manufacturing events this year, adding workshops on intellectual property and business succession planning on Oct. 4.

Tours start Sept. 30 and are outlined at www.mfgday.com.

Mary Tuck, one of the owners of Kalispell Kreamery, talked about the challenges of keeping up with government-mandated consumer safety regulations.

“The dairy industry has more requirements than NASA,” Tuck said. “It’s a barrier for entry into the food industry.”

Kalispell Kreamery has kept its milk and milk product distribution within Montana because crossing the state line means additional federal regulation.

“If we stay within Montana borders, we don’t have to do the federal paperwork,” Tuck said.

The creamery is reviewing, however, whether it’s feasible to expand its market into Idaho and Eastern Washington.

The 12-day shelf life of the minimally processed milk has to be considered as a larger market is contemplated, she added.

Tom Anderson, owner of Glacier Precast Concrete, said his market area is contained to a regional geographic area because the products such as sound walls and septic tanks are so heavy. His concrete products are shipped as far as Bozeman and Havre in Montana and into southern Alberta.

Panelists talked about the importance of being nimble in developing products their customers want.

Shane Ackerly, vice president of Nomad Global Communication Systems, recalled how he and his three other start-up partners scrambled 14 years ago to create a prototype mobile communication vehicle geared to firefighters and then quickly had to adapt their prototype to other communication needs.

“Our internal motto was, ‘We can do that,’” Ackerly said. “You just go for it.”

Clint Walker, executive vice president of Falkor Defense, said Falkor is now selling firearms to 85 dealers nationwide, with exponential growth over the past year. Military and law enforcement agencies have been growing markets for the Kalispell-based manufacturer.

“The market is global for us,” Walker said. “The brand is global.”

Nomad also has tapped into an international market, Ackerly said, and has found solid domestic demand for its communication systems with government entities such as the Army Corps of Engineers, Bureau of Indian Affairs and National Guard.

Recruiting and retaining employees is an ongoing challenge for many local manufacturers, the panelists acknowledged. About 120,000 Montanans will retire in the next decade, with only 45,000 workers available to fill the void.

“We’ve had to get creative with how we recruit people,” Walker said.

Thankfully, several panelists agreed, the Flathead Valley has natural amenities that make it a desirable place to live; that helps with employee recruitment.

“There’s a culture here,” Walker said. “If you travel outside of here, it reminds you why you’re here.”

Those same amenities, along with a solid work ethic, keep local manufacturers in the Flathead. Walker said Falkor was lured by an attractive offer to relocate to Texas but declined the offer.

Tuck said Kalispell Kreamery, too, has had inquiries about relocating to another state, but the logistics of moving an entire dairy make it impractical at best.

“People here are very aware of the foods they’re consuming,” Tuck said, noting the demand for their local dairy products. “You may not find that in other places.”

Features editor Lynnette Hintze may be reached at 758-4421 or by email at [email protected].