Mary Ellen Dohrs, Jordan Manufacturing, and the…Chicken Roaster?

Mary Ellen Dohrs, Jordan Manufacturing, and the…Chicken Roaster?

by | Oct 16, 2025 | News

Visitors to Jordan Manufacturing’s office or booth at a tradeshow will find some interesting examples of our company’s current and past products. Each one is chosen to tell a story about Jordan Manufacturing’s place in American manufacturing history. One such product is the For the Birds Poultry Roasting Rack.

The Poultry Roasting Rack produced by Jordan Manufacturing in the early-90s has an interesting backstory. The idea and design was created by Mary Ellen Dohrs, an American industrial designer who did pioneering work for General Motors and Sundberg-Ferar.

black and white photo of a 1950s Buick Le Sabre concept car with a woman sitting in the driver's seat.

Dohrs studied industrial design at the Pratt Institute in New York City and joined General Motors in 1950 at the age of 20. Not only was she the youngest designer working at any automaker, she was also one of the first female designers to work at GM, predating “The Damsels of Design” by several years.

At GM, Dohrs worked primarily on interior design, an area that had only recently gained importance in car styling. Her work combined elegance and practicality, seen in her interior design of the 1950 Series 62 Cadillac Convertible.

interior of a 1962 Cadillac Series 62 Convertible

Mary Ellen believed car interiors should express both comfort and character, helping move automotive design beyond pure function.

After leaving GM, Dohrs continued her career with Sundberg-Ferar, where she contributed to industrial design projects for clients including IBM, Whirlpool, Samsonite, and Packard, for whom she designed the interior of the 1955 Caribbean.

exterior of a 1955 Packard Caribbean
interior of a 1955 Packard Caribbean

In retirement, Mary Ellen continued to design and create art, later teaching art in school.

In 1986, a patent was filed with the USPTO for a “bird roasting assembly and method”. Mary had developed a rack that would allow cooks across the country to roast a chicken to perfection. “Tender goodness by gravity – not grease!”

Jordan Manufacturing’s founder, Robert Johnson, was related to Mary Ellen by marriage and helped design the forming and assembly fixtures. The roasters were manufactured in our facility in Belding, Michigan. The finished packaging included a book of recipes and a packet of spices. Robert took great pride in having helped a world-class designer bring her idea to life. Robert and Mary understood that art and inspiration are always connected to craft and technical skill. It’s always a pleasure to look at the item in my hand and learn about the mind from which it sprang.

For more information about Mary Ellen, see the videos on YouTube uploaded by the Corvair Lady

Celebrating Sachiko Hosaka: 2023 Michigan Manufacturing Woman of the Year

Celebrating Sachiko Hosaka: 2023 Michigan Manufacturing Woman of the Year

by | Nov 13, 2023 | News

In manufacturing, it is not often that individuals are recognized for their exceptional achievements. However, one of Jordan Manufacturing’s leaders, and a remarkable woman, is being celebrated for her achievements as the 2023 Michigan Manufacturing Woman of the Year. Sachiko Hosaka, the Chief Financial Officer (CFO) of Jordan Manufacturing Company, will take home this honor during the Michigan Manufacturing Association’s Manufacturing Excellence Awards in October.

Jordan Manufacturing: Where We Manufacture Happiness

Founded in 1949 in Lake Odessa, Michigan; Jordan Manufacturing Company offers its customers The Jordan Process, in which the tooling, production, and support is kept 100% in house for the life of the program. Their passion is to “manufacture happiness” by following the core values of Coworkers, Customers, Community, and Continual Improvement.

Sachiko Hosaka: A Multifaceted Leader

Born in Kanagawa, Japan, Sachiko brings a unique perspective and international experience to the table. Her multicultural background has provided her with a deep understanding of business and leadership practices, contributing to her effectiveness as a leader in the manufacturing sector. In addition to her financial responsibilities, Sachiko is an accomplished author and blogger, with several books published in Japan, Korea, and Taiwan.

The Michigan Manufacturing Woman of the Year Award

Sachiko’s dedication, expertise, and continuous contributions to the manufacturing industry have not gone unnoticed. The Michigan Manufacturing Association (MMA) is proud to present her with the 2023 Michigan Manufacturing Woman of the Year Award. This prestigious accolade recognizes Sachiko’s outstanding achievements, leadership, and the impact she has made in the field.

The Manufacturing Excellence Awards, hosted by the MMA, celebrate the leaders and products that drive Michigan’s manufacturing industry forward. By honoring Sachiko with this significant award, they acknowledge her pivotal role in advancing the manufacturing sector and inspiring future generations of female leaders.

Sachiko Hosaka’s journey as the CFO of Jordan Manufacturing Company, to receiving the 2023 Michigan Manufacturing Woman of the Year Award is a testament to her exceptional leadership and contribution to the industry. Her commitment to excellence, combined with the company’s adherence to The Jordan Process and core values, has helped make Jordan Manufacturing a trusted name in the stamping and tooling manufacturing industry. As we celebrate Sachiko’s accomplishments, we recognize the importance of empowering women and fostering diversity within the manufacturing sector. Sachiko serves not only as an inspiration for future female leaders but also as a shining example of the innovation and dedication that drives manufacturing forward.

For more information on MMA’s other Award Winners and the Manufacturing Excellence Awards event, please visit: https://mimfg.org/Articles/the-best-in-michigan-manufacturing-announced

Shifts in Japanese Manufacturing – Sights and Sounds from Manufacturing World Japan

Shifts in Japanese Manufacturing – Sights and Sounds from Manufacturing World Japan

by | Sep 28, 2023 | News

This year, Sachiko and I attended the Manufacturing World Japan exhibition at the Big Sight exhibition hall in Tokyo. Manufacturing World is a leading series of industrial trade shows for the manufacturing industry, held four times a year in Tokyo, Osaka, Nagoya, and Fukuoka. It consists of 10 specialized shows covering a wide range of products and technologies.

One focus area at the exhibition was the digitalization of business, known as DX (as the Japanese abbreviate it). Japanese manufacturers are seeking ways to digitize all aspects of their operations, which marks a significant shift for the country. Japanese businesses still rely on outdated technologies despite its reputation as a technological hub. Tech czar Taro Kono is attempting to phase out floppy disks and fax machines in the Tokyo government by rewriting data storage and transmission regulations. This battle was on display at the Manufacturing World Japan exhibition this summer.

The exhibition hall was dominated by exhibitors of various sizes, offering solutions for companies of any size or legacy. Notable companies included Google and Salesforce and Japanese firms like Hitachi, Misumi, Kintone, and Zero Four. The show featured a range of solutions for asset management, HR, supply chain management, quality and inspection, and facility management.

While American companies generally have a head start in digitalization and have largely digitized shop floor management and estimation since the 90s, other areas of interest at the exhibition were unrelated to digitalization.

One aspect that caught my attention was the sophistication of Japanese corporate uniforms. In contrast to the typical American uniform of polo shirts and khakis, Japanese uniforms are engineered to project a sleek and technologically advanced image while ensuring workers stay cool. As the climate changes, Japanese uniforms have adapted active and passive cooling systems. Personally, I even purchased a wearable heat pump from Sony to keep cool during the sweltering Tokyo summer. It’s essential for Jordan Manufacturing to prioritize our workers’ comfort, safety, and productivity, especially as we work with customers and vendors around the world.

Another area of interest was material handling. Jordan Manufacturing specializes in metal stampings and assemblies, often dealing with numerous boxes on the floor. At the exhibition, companies showcased suction systems for picking and placing boxes, even those made of porous cardboard materials. This has clear ergonomic benefits and could be integrated into our assembly cells while providing advantages for aging workforces by reducing fatigue and injuries.

While it’s evident that robotics and additive manufacturing have a promising future in the global industry, it’s crucial to remember that people will always be a significant part of manufacturing. Investing not only in the comfort and safety of our coworkers but also in improving other processes such as sales, planning, quality management, and HR is essential.