Frequently Asked Questions
Answers to the most common questions about Shively Bros — company facts, the Shively family of companies, services, products, careers, and locations.
What does Shively Bros do?
Shively Bros Inc. manages tooling commodities for automotive and industrial manufacturers — tool preset and measuring, gage tracking and calibration, inventory and supply chain management, procurement, regrind management, and related on-site services delivered at 21 locations across the United States, Canada, and Mexico.
What companies are part of the Shively family?
The Shively family of companies consists of Shively Bros Inc. (the parent), Shively MES, Shively Supply, Universal Tool, Greenia Custom Woodworking, SDMS / SDMS Connect, and River Valley Cabinetry. Each operates under its own brand and serves a distinct market, from aerospace manufacturing to luxury custom cabinetry.
Is Shively Bros employee-owned?
Yes. Shively Bros operates as an Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP) company, meaning employees hold ownership stakes in the business.
Where is Shively Bros headquartered?
Shively Bros is headquartered at 2919 S. Grand Traverse, Flint, Michigan 48507, with additional offices and onsite service locations across Michigan, Indiana, New York, Ontario, and Coahuila, Mexico.
How long has Shively Bros been in business?
Shively Bros was founded in 1947 and has operated for 75+ years, serving automotive and industrial manufacturers with tooling commodity management services.
What is the STARS framework?
STARS is Shively Bros’ quality policy framework: Safety, Team Member Development, Adding Value, Responsiveness & Reduction of Waste, and Sustainability. It governs how the company operates and how it trains and evaluates its team.
Does Shively Bros have a woman-owned affiliate?
Yes. SDMS, a Shively family of companies affiliate, is a certified woman-owned diverse supplier (WBENC) serving the medical, engineering, and manufacturing sectors.
How many locations does Shively Bros operate?
Shively Bros operates from 21 locations across the United States, Canada, and Mexico, including regional offices and onsite service teams embedded at customer manufacturing sites.
What is tool preset and measuring service?
Tool preset and measuring service sets up and measures cutting tools offline before they reach the machine, so tool length and diameter are verified for accuracy before production begins. Shively Bros performs this as an onsite or managed service for manufacturing customers.
What is gage tracking and calibration?
Gage tracking and calibration is the scheduled inspection and certification of measuring instruments (calipers, micrometers, bore gages, and similar tools) against traceable standards, with documentation kept for quality audits. Shively Bros manages this on a recurring schedule for customer gage inventories.
What is regrind management?
Regrind management tracks worn cutting tools, routes them for reconditioning instead of disposal, and returns them to service — extending tool life and reducing new-tool spend.
Does Shively Bros manage inventory on-site at customer facilities?
Yes. Shively Bros operates onsite service teams embedded directly inside customer manufacturing plants (including General Motors, Cummins, DMAX, and Nexteer facilities) to manage tooling inventory, supply chain, and point-of-use vending in place.
Is Shively Bros support available outside business hours?
Yes. Shively Bros provides 24/7 customer support for critical tooling and supply issues.
What product categories does Shively Bros carry?
Shively Bros carries six product categories: cutting tools and metalworking (end mills, drill bits, reamers, threading tools), abrasives, metalworking gages, safety and PPE, lubricants and metalworking fluids, and material handling and storage equipment.
Does Shively Bros ship outside Michigan?
Yes. Shively Bros ships across North America from its network of 21 locations in the United States, Canada, and Mexico.
Can Shively Bros source a product that is not listed?
Yes. Shively Bros’ procurement team sources products outside the standard catalog through its vendor network — contact a product specialist with the specification.
How do I apply for a job at Shively Bros?
Open positions are posted by Shively Bros’ sister company SDMS (Shively Diversified Management Services), which handles hiring for Shively Bros. Submit an application and resume through the SDMS hiring portal.
What benefits does Shively Bros offer?
Shively Bros offers health, dental, and vision insurance, wellness programs, competitive pay with performance bonuses, PTO and flexible scheduling, and professional development and training programs.
Does Shively Bros hire at all 21 locations?
Shively Bros hires across its regional offices and onsite customer-facility teams in Michigan, Indiana, New York, Ontario, and Coahuila, Mexico, depending on open roles.
Is Shively Bros support available 24/7?
Yes. Shively Bros provides 24/7 customer support for critical tooling and supply issues.
How many Shively Bros locations are there?
Shively Bros operates from 21 locations: 8 regional offices across the United States, Canada, and Mexico, plus 13 onsite service teams embedded at customer manufacturing facilities.
What is the fastest way to reach Shively Bros?
Call the Flint headquarters at 810-232-7401 or email shivelybros@shivelybros.com. For location-specific contacts, see the office list on this page.
Is Shively Bros the same company as Shively Supply?
No. Shively Supply is a division of Shively Bros Inc. that provides industrial supply and eCommerce ordering for manufacturing customers, operating from Cadillac, Michigan.
How is Shively Bros related to Universal Tool?
Universal Tool Inc. is a Shively family of companies subsidiary that engineers custom fastening solutions for automotive, aerospace, and industrial manufacturers.