At Hanover’s PCI, Investing in People Drives Business Health

Listen to this article

When it comes to company health, Precision Cut Industries (PCI) in Hanover believes the best place to start is with the individual.
The laser-cutting and fabrication firm, which recently appointed its first female president, has been quietly but steadily reshaping its workplace culture with a focus on employee well-being. That choice is proving to be not just good for people, but good for business.

A Company’s Health Begins with People

Like many Central Pennsylvania manufacturers, PCI has weathered industry shifts, supply-chain disruptions, and a tight labor market. What sets the company apart is how it has responded. Rather than doubling down only on efficiency or production metrics, PCI has turned inward to focus on the wellness of its workforce.

That shift began with leadership recognizing that sustainable growth requires healthy, engaged employees. PCI launched initiatives to support mental health, build stronger communication, and encourage physical wellness. Employees are offered tools and resources to make healthier choices, but more importantly, leadership models the behaviors it encourages.

To guide these efforts, PCI partnered with Philip Ovadia, MD, board-certified Cardiac Surgeon and founder of Ovadia Heart Health, whose expertise helped shape a program that was realistic for a manufacturing environment and responsive to the needs of PCI’s workforce. His involvement reinforced that the company’s investment in wellness was more than symbolic; it was grounded in proven strategies for lasting health.

The results are showing up in retention, morale, and overall productivity, which are three metrics that many employers are struggling to maintain. For example, across industries, replacing an employee can cost 50–200 % of their annual salary, and pervasive disengagement continues to undercut productivity.

Why It Matters to Central PA Businesses

The Hanover-based company’s strategy mirrors a broader trend across Central Pennsylvania. As competition for talent intensifies, companies are realizing that wage increases and signing bonuses alone do not guarantee loyalty. Employees want workplaces that value their whole selves, including their health, balance, and growth. According to a 2025 workplace trends study, 65 % of U.S. workers say flexibility is the most important non-salary benefit, and 92 % say mental health coverage is vital to a positive culture.

This is especially true in manufacturing, one of the region’s largest employment sectors. The industry faces significant retention and recruitment challenges—for instance, manufacturing turnover rates are nearing 40 %, and Deloitte projects that millions of U.S. jobs will remain unfilled due to a skills gap.

Lessons for Other Leaders

Here’s what Central PA business owners can learn from PCI:
• Model change from the top. Employees notice when leadership lives what it preaches. PCI’s executives made their own health commitments visible, encouraging buy in companywide.
• Think long term, not quick fixes. One-time wellness perks are less effective than sustained culture shifts. PCI’s approach is rooted in daily habits, open communication, and continuous improvement.
• Connect wellness to performance. Rather than treating employee health as separate from the bottom line, PCI frames it as a driver of productivity, safety, and innovation.

In a region where small and mid-sized businesses form the backbone of the economy, PCI’s example shows that cultural investment can be just as critical as capital investment.

Looking Ahead

For PCI, company health is now an ongoing process, not a single initiative. The Hanover manufacturer is positioning itself as a business that delivers precision parts and builds a precision culture, one where the company’s success starts with the success of its people.

And for other employers across Central Pennsylvania, the message is clear: in today’s economy, healthier people mean healthier companies.