WGMA Collins Manufacturing Company Plant Tour – Macon, Georgia

Join Women of GMA (WGMA) for a special behind-the-scenes tour of Collins Manufacturing Company, a Woman-Owned Small Business producing high-quality, tight-tolerance parts and assemblies in Macon, Georgia.

Led by Owner and President Gwen Collins, Collins combines precision machining, sheet metal fabrication, certified welding, engineering and assembly capabilities to serve demanding military and commercial customers. This special WGMA tour provides an opportunity to see advanced manufacturing firsthand while hearing the story of a woman-owned Georgia manufacturer that has continued to invest in its people, equipment and capabilities.

About Collins Manufacturing Company

Collins Manufacturing Company's roots date to 1982, when Fred J. Greene Jr. founded Greene Machine & Manufacturing. Gwen and Larry Collins purchased the company in 2006, and today the business operates as Collins Manufacturing Company. Under their leadership, the company has expanded to six manufacturing facilities in Macon and significantly broadened its capabilities.

Collins is an AS9100/ISO9001 Certified, Woman-Owned Small Business (WOSB) specializing in high-quality, tight-tolerance parts and assemblies. The company supports production contracts with all branches of the U.S. military and Foreign Military Sales, along with commercial customers in manufacturing, transportation, agriculture and other industries.

Three Key Highlights

1. The Story Behind a Woman-Owned Manufacturing Business

Hear the Collins story and learn about Gwen Collins' path from engineering to manufacturing leadership. A Mercer University School of Engineering graduate, Gwen spent 13 years as a software engineer at Robins Air Force Base before she and Larry purchased the business in 2006. Today, she serves as Owner and President and remains actively involved in the company's day-to-day operations.

For WGMA attendees, this is an opportunity to see what manufacturing leadership, business ownership and long-term growth look like firsthand.

2. Precision Machining & Sheet Metal Manufacturing

See the technology behind Collins' tight-tolerance manufacturing capabilities, including CNC mills and lathes, multi-axis machining up to 5-axis, automated laser cutting with an eight-sheet tower, waterjet cutting and multiple precision press brakes.

The operation demonstrates how advanced equipment and skilled manufacturing professionals work together to produce complex components and fabricated products.

3. Welding, Engineering & Complex Assemblies

Collins' capabilities extend well beyond machining. The company provides 3G certified welding and fabrication, including GTAW, GMAW, SMAW, spot and robotic welding for steel, stainless steel and aluminum.

Its capabilities also include engineering and reverse engineering, complex assemblies and FARO laser tracking for oversized assemblies requiring tight tolerances.

Manufacturing & Continuous Improvement Takeaways

• How multiple manufacturing disciplines can work together within one organization
• How CNC machining, automated laser cutting, waterjet, precision forming and robotic welding complement skilled manufacturing trades
• The importance of quality systems when producing tight-tolerance parts and assemblies
• How investment in employee training and manufacturing equipment supports continued growth
• How engineering, fabrication, machining, welding, assembly and measurement capabilities can support increasingly complex customer requirements

Who Should Attend

This special Women of GMA (WGMA) event is designed for women throughout Georgia's manufacturing community, including:

• Manufacturing Executives and Business Owners
• Plant Managers and Operations Leaders
• Continuous Improvement / Lean Leaders
• Manufacturing Engineers
• Quality and Production Leaders
• HR, Workforce and Training Leaders
• Sales and Business Development Professionals
• Women looking to grow their careers, leadership skills and relationships within manufacturing

Whether you work directly on the plant floor or support manufacturers through engineering, operations, quality, workforce development or business services, this tour offers an opportunity to see manufacturing firsthand and build stronger relationships with women across Georgia's manufacturing community.

Tour Agenda

10:00-10:30 am Networking and WGMA Welcome
10:30-11:00 am Tour Host Presentation and Safety Briefing
11:00 am-12:30 pm Plant Tour
12:30-1:30 pm Lunch and Wrap up

TOUR REQUIREMENTS:

CLOSED-TOED/FLAT-BOTTOM SHOES ARE MANDATORY. No High Heels.

Thanks to our lunch sponsor: