News and Events

ISO 9001:2000 Certification

November 5, 2006 - Peoria Production Shop became the first self-supporting sheltered workshop in the region to earn the prestigious ISO 9001: 2000 Certification in Customized Packaging, Manufacturing and Assembly Solutions for Business and Industry. "ISO registration has validated our world class attention to quality, on-time delivery and customer satisfaction," said Dick Peplow, President and CEO. "This achievement also speaks to our employees' dedication to their jobs and ability to succeed." Peoria Production Shop made a commitment to develop a formal quality program in 2004 and achieving ISO 9001: 2000 certification is a major accomplishment and milestone in the company's long history.

Shop Awards and Recognition

June 15, 2006 - The Heartland Partnership and the Peoria Area Chamber of Commerce presented the Peoria Production Shop with the Outstanding Small Business Award (26 - 150 employees) at the Heartland Partnership's 2006 Annual Meeting. Dick Peplow, Peoria Production Shop's President and CEO, accepted the award on behalf of the shop. Nearly 600 people attended the meeting featuring the annual celebrations of the Economic Development Council for Central Illinois and the Peoria Area Chamber of Commerce. The annual meeting featured a review of growth, prosperity, and community wealth accomplishments that have occurred in the region over the last year. Themed "Driving Forward," the annual meeting celebrated the region's progress and how collaborative new ideas and innovations are taking place in the Peoria area.

65th anniversary

March 23, 2006 marked the Peoria Production Shop's 65th anniversary of providing employment opportunities for people with disabilities. The shop's rich history began as part of the Peoria Municipal Tuberculosis Sanitarium providing a means rehabilitation for recovered Tuberculosis patients. On March 23, 1941 the Peoria Production Shop opened for business in a rented building with 20 employees and 5 sewing machines. "In our first year of business, the company produced a total of 22,983 canvas and leather hand protectors for Caterpillar, Inc. manufacturing facilities," says Tom Sander, Business Development Manager. "The company is vastly different from when we first opened for business in 1941. Today, our packaging and assembly group receives, packages, and ships more than half a million pieces each business day, yet we still sew products for Caterpillar and many other companies in a variety of industries," says Sander.

In 1998, the company acquired 15 acres of land on Peoria's far north side and built a 4.7 million-dollar state of the art, 130,000 square foot manufacturing and distribution center. "The facility provides a safe, comfortable, and efficient work environment for our unique workforce" says Dick Peplow, President and CEO.

"Today, the Peoria Production Shop continues to emphasize employee pride and self-reliance while assisting persons with disabilities to become financially and socially independent. We focus on our employees' strengths so that we maintain outstanding quality products and services. We take pride in our history and strive to provide even more employment opportunities to an increased number of individuals who can benefit financially and socially from their experience," says Peplow.