The Forte Standard
How Northumberland is Evolving for Customers
Our Northumberland, PA plant recently had the opportunity to host Kelley Bros for an on-site visit to showcase the facility’s transformation over the past few years. This visit was an opportunity to highlight the major strides made in safety, quality, and operational efficiency—investments that not only strengthen our operations but also determine how we’re delivering comprehensive solutions tailored to customer needs.
The visit began with a presentation led by Northumberland Plant Manager Dustin Harris, who provided an overview of the operational advancements and strategic initiatives. Following the presentation, Dustin guided the team through a plant tour, giving them a closer look at the improvements in action, and shared his perspective on the importance of strong customer relationships, stating:
"The best vendor-customer relationships go beyond transactions—they are true partnerships that drive mutual growth. Our collaboration with Kelley Bros is built on trust, teamwork, and a shared vision for success."
Delivering Real Impact
Kelley Bros had the chance to see how Northumberland has tackled service and quality improvements head-on. With a clear focus on providing end-to-end solutions that meet project demands, Forte has invested $1.1 million in new equipment upgrades and strengthened the team behind it, reinforcing our commitment to quality and reliability.
A Culture of Safety
Kelley Bros also witnessed firsthand the impact of Northumberland’s strong safety culture. With an emphasis on proactive measures and employee engagement, the site has achieved 457 consecutive days without injury. This success is driven by several key initiatives, including:
Daily GEMBA Walks
—Leadership walks the production floor to observe workflows, address potential safety concerns, and reinforce best practices in real-time.
Behavior-Based Safety Observations (BBSO)
– These observations provide a proactive approach to identifying and mitigating risks before they become incidents.
EHS Leadership
– The recent addition of an EHS Supervisor with over 20 years of expertise has further strengthened our commitment to safety.
Fostering a safe work environment is critical not only for employee well-being but also for delivering dependable, consistent service to our customers—when and how they need it.
The Forte Brand Comes to Life
Beyond safety and quality, the visit also showcased the full transition of the site to the Forte brand. Every aspect of Northumberland’s facility—its look, operations, and overall aesthetic—now reflects Forte’s unified identity. But it’s more than visual. It’s a tangible expression of what our brand stands for— over a century of trusted door expertise, comprehensive door solutions tailored to our customers’ needs, and exceptional customer service every step of the way.
From plant flow to finished product, the visit demonstrated how our full range of Aspiro® and Cendura® product lines come together under one roof to support projects of every scale. As part of Forte’s plant network, Northumberland’s location enables us to provide faster turnaround and more responsive service to customers across the Northeastern U.S.—a key benefit for Kelley Bros and others in the region.
Glenn Taylor, Vice President - Supply Chain at Kelley Bros, shared his thoughts on the visit:
"We were pleasantly surprised by all the investments made at the Northumberland plant. With the facility so close to many of our Northeast locations, we look forward to ordering a lot more from this plant and benefiting from faster lead times and stronger service."
What This Means Moving Forward
The visit strongly affirms that our commitment to continuous improvement is creating real value for our customers. By investing in our processes, people, and customer relationships, we’ve positioned Northumberland—and Forte overall—as a dependable partner for comprehensive, customer-driven solutions delivered on schedule and built to last.
