Manufacturing Excellence in Action: Cardinal LG Shows the Power of “Future Ready. Right Now.”

At this month’s Mid-Florida Regional Manufacturers Association (MRMA) meeting, our team had the privilege of touring Cardinal LG‘s Ocala facility—a masterclass in forward-thinking manufacturing that perfectly embodies what it means to be “Future Ready. Right Now.”

Intelligence Meets Manufacturing Excellence

Cardinal LG isn’t just keeping pace with industry trends; they’re defining them. With 49 facilities across the United States, this glass manufacturing leader has launched an aggressive automation initiative designed to transform their entire operation within just two years. The numbers speak volumes: they’re targeting a 97% reduction in manual touch points through intelligent automation.

What struck us most during the facility tour wasn’t just the impressive daily output of 5,000 pieces, but the strategic vision driving their transformation. Cardinal LG understands that the glass component—while seemingly simple—represents a critical piece in the complex, multi-company process of creating residential products like windows and doors. Excellence at every step demands precision, and precision increasingly demands intelligence.

The AI Thread That Connects Everything

The tour revealed something fascinating: artificial intelligence isn’t just improving their manufacturing processes—it’s becoming the connective thread that enables Cardinal LG to maintain exceptional quality standards while dramatically increasing efficiency. This mirrors exactly what we’re seeing across industries: AI isn’t an add-on technology, it’s the foundation that transforms good companies into market leaders.

Cardinal LG’s Ocala facility, established in 2005, has consistently operated ahead of industry standards. But their recent major investments in AI and automation technology represent something more profound than incremental improvement—they represent a fundamental shift in how manufacturing excellence is achieved.

The ROI of Forward-Thinking

Yes, the upfront investment in intelligent automation is substantial. But Cardinal LG leadership understands what many manufacturing executives are just beginning to grasp: the long-term return on investment far exceeds the initial cost. When you can reduce manual touch points by 97% while maintaining—even enhancing—quality standards, you’re not just improving efficiency. You’re creating sustainable competitive advantage.

Future Ready Manufacturing Today

Walking through Cardinal LG’s operation, we witnessed exactly what “Future Ready. Right Now.” looks like in practice. It’s not about waiting for tomorrow’s technology—it’s about implementing today’s most advanced solutions to create tomorrow’s competitive advantages.

For Florida manufacturers watching industry evolution accelerate, Cardinal LG proves that the companies thriving aren’t those playing catch-up with trends—they’re the ones intelligent enough to anticipate what’s next and bold enough to act on that vision immediately.

The future of manufacturing isn’t coming. At facilities like Cardinal LG, it’s already here.