Garmin, the global leader in smart wearables and satellite navigation, announced the celebration of its 35th anniversary this year. Since its founding in 1989, the brand has upheld the spirit of “Beat Yesterday”, integrating innovative technologies from aviation, marine, automotive, and outdoor adventure to daily fitness and have grown to an almost 20,000 strong global workforce across 86 locations worldwide, supported by ten manufacturing facilities including five in Asia with over 9,000 employees.
The company also wrapped up the first quarter 2024 with a consolidated revenue of $1.38 billion, a 20 percent increase compared to the prior year quarter across four segments. Garmin remains consistent with its pursuit of innovation in every market they serve, with a relentless focus on creating superior, essential products, with a strong product portfolio of over 287 million products units sold till date.
“There is really no other company like Garmin. I’ve been with Garmin since the start with Gary Burrell and Dr. Min Kao and I’ve personally witnessed the exponential growth and groundbreaking achievements in these 35 years in all segments that we serve. These accomplishments underscore our unwavering commitment to quality, innovation and most importantly, customer satisfaction, which is integral to our success” shared Mr. Cliff Pemble, President and Chief Executive Officer of Garmin Ltd.
The Driving Force behind 35 Years of Innovation
In 2024, Garmin was awarded the No. 2 spot on Forbes‘ 2024 list of America’s Best Large Employers, the first time that Garmin has had achieved this prestigious award and its strongest showing to date and the highest-ranking spot among technology companies. This annual ranking celebrates companies that create best-in-class workplaces and invest in the well-being of their associates.
“This ranking validates that we continue to uphold the core values of honesty, integrity, and respect set forth by our co-founders Dr. Min Kao and Gary Burrell 35 years ago. Although we have grown into a global enterprise with almost 20,000 associates, it is incredibly gratifying to know that at a foundational level Garmin is still that innovative company with an authentic passion for excellence,” said Laurie Minard, Garmin Vice President of Human Resources.
Expansion of Garmin Campus in Olathe, Kansas for enhanced operations
Garmin’s operational headquarters in Olathe, Kansas occupies almost two million square feet. The Distribution Center spans 490,000 sq ft, including a 360,000 sq ft warehouse and a 56,000 sq ft mezzanine – equivalent to being able to accommodate four 747 aircrafts. The facility features an RM OSR room, Inspection room, Reverse Logistics area, and over 2.3 miles of conveyor lines with 46 dock doors.
It has a storage capacity houses approximately 23,388 finished goods locations and 15,339 raw materials locations. Over 200 warehouse associates work across five departments, supporting aviation manufacturing, customer repair, and reverse logistics and the warehouse is able to support same-day delivery for online orders, achieving more than 10,000 orders per day.
In Asia, the five manufacturing facilities manufacture products for the outdoor, fitness, marine, automotive OEM and Aviation segments to meet global demand.
Expansion of Garmin Campus in Olathe, Kansas – Designed with employees’ wellbeing at its core
Designed with employees in mind, Garmin has expanded and embarked on a renovation of its campus in Olathe, Kansas. This new building features a spacious fitness centre, a gymnasium for various sports, full-service locker rooms, a top-tier cafeteria, and well-being consulting rooms. With qualified exercise professionals on hand throughout the day, the Well-being Center is open 24/7 for associates, providing a cardio and strength-training space, group exercise rooms, and consulting rooms for well-being appointments.
“The Well-being Center, Café, and office spaces within Building 3 are major milestones and an essential component of our future as we continue to put our greatest asset first—our people,” said Patrick Desbois, Executive Vice President of Operations.
Vertically-Integrated Business Model to Maximise Value to Customers
Since its inception, Garmin has continued to embrace a vertically integrated business model with strategic design, manufacturing, distribution, sales, and support centres worldwide. While many companies focus on outsourcing and downsizing, Garmin focuses on insourcing and job creation.
Garmin continuously reinvests in talented individuals who are aligned to the Garmin culture who are ultimately able to maximise value for customers and stakeholders. Strategic investments in operations and manufacturing facilities have enabled Garmin to significantly reduce risk, focus on opportunities, and remain flexible in ever-changing environments. By controlling the entire process from start till end, Garmin limits dependency on third parties and is able to better manage inventory costs.
The Future Outlook of Garmin
Garmin’s diverse product lines exemplify their commitment to technological integration, particularly evident in Garmin Health and OEM solutions. Garmin Health aims to enhance well-being through world-class devices and software for detecting and managing significant medical conditions.
In the OEM sector, Garmin offers solutions across Aviation, Automotive, and Marine segments. Notably, Garmin’s Automotive OEM Solutions, as a tier-one supplier, delivers a fully integrated driving experience, highlighting their engineering expertise and innovative approach.
Garmin’s 35-year journey reflects its commitment to innovation, vertical integration, and creating value across diverse markets. As they continue to grow, Garmin remains dedicated to pioneering advancements and enhancing the lives of their customers worldwide.
“We remain committed to our customers. Together with our global teams, we will continue to pursue innovation and stay true to our mission to be an enduring company which creates exceptional products essential to our customers’ lives. At the same time, we are forward-focused on strategic plans that will allow us to continue to show commitment to our customers for the next 35 years and beyond,” said Mr. Scoppen Lin, Assistant General Manager Sales Marketing , Garmin Asia.
