General Manufacturing Excellence – Small Business
Location: Auburn
Industry subsector: Precision-turned product manufacturing
Founded: 1924
Employees: 36
Top executive: Gene Degre, president
Primary product: Commercial lock hardware
Killeen Manufacturing has sustained its operations for more than a century by focusing on precision machining and consistent product quality. The Auburn-based company produces commercial lock hardware, relying on a small workforce to maintain production standards and meet customer demands.
Over the past year, Killeen introduced automation systems into its production process, marking a shift in how work is completed on the shop floor. The company paired that investment with workforce development, moving existing employees into higher-skilled and higher-paying roles.
The transition was supported in part through collaboration with local partners, including the Massachusetts Manufacturing Extension Partnership, as the company adapted its operations while retaining its workforce.
Killeen’s business is built on long-standing customer relationships and a reputation for reliability. The company continues to balance modernization efforts with a focus on maintaining quality and workforce stability.
Brad Kane is editor of the Worcester Business Journal.
