Wichita , Kansas ( CNN ) -- A few years ago , Cessna , one of the most renowned names in aviation , was selling hundreds of multimillion-dollar airplanes annually . Then the recession hit . The company lost half of its orders and half of its jobs -- 6,000 jobs in Wichita alone . `` I think now every day we wake up , we feel we have to go out and earn our right to be that number-one manufacturer in general aviation , '' said Cessna CEO Jack Pelton . As a result , Cessna has re-examined its manufacturing methods on the aircraft production line . They 've stepped up customer service and they say they 're looking for new ideas , new savings and new efficiencies . Take a tour through Cessna 's production line . The company cleared out an entire part of a production building , Pelton said , so managers could reconsider `` how we build airplanes and how we can become better at it . '' Full coverage : Building Up America . `` Innovate or die , '' Pelton said . `` You ca n't just hunker down and hide during this period of time . You have to continue doing your best . ''
Cessna lost half jobs in Kansas , Wichita , a few years ago . Managers revamped the aircraft production line and improved customer service . `` Innovate or die , '' said company CEO Pelton .