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                                                                   EXHIBIT 10(u)


                              EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT


         THIS AGREEMENT, made and entered into as of the 24th day of November,
1999, by and between Riviera Tool Company, a Michigan corporation, hereinafter
referred to as "Corporation," and Kenneth K. Rieth, hereinafter referred to as
"Employee."

                                   WITNESSETH

         WHEREAS, Corporation will be engaging in the business of design and
construction of tools for the metal stamping business; and

         NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual promises hereinafter set
forth, the parties hereto do promise and agree as follows:

    1. EMPLOYMENT. Corporation shall employ Employee and Employee shall serve
    Corporation as Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer performing
    such reasonable duties as are customary to such position and may as from
    time to time be directed by the Corporation's Board of Directors. The
    Employee's place of employment shall be the present offices of the
    Corporation in Grand Rapids, Michigan, or at another location as shall be
    mutually agreed upon between the parties. Employee shall devote his full
    working time and efforts to the affairs of the Corporation.

    2. TERM. The term of employment of Employee under this Agreement shall
    commence on September 1, 1999 and shall continue for one fixed term of three
    (3) years.

    3. COMPENSATION. In consideration of the services to be performed for the
    Corporation by Employee pursuant to Paragraph 1, above, Corporation shall
    provide to Employee the following:

         A.  A base salary of One Hundred Sixty Five Thousand ($165,000.00) per
             year, subject to being increased at the discretion of the Board of
             Directors of Corporation, payable in installments according to
             Corporation's regular salaried payroll policy payment procedures in
             effect from time to time.

         B.  Such bonuses as from time to time are determined by the Corporation
             but not less than three and one-half percent (3.5%) of the annual
             consolidated profits of the Corporation, before payment of or
             provision for taxes on income or officer's bonuses based upon such
             income of the Corporation, and as determined by the regular
             certified public accountants for the Corporation according to
             generally accepted accounting principles consistently applied.

    The amounts to be paid pursuant to this paragraph are prior to any
    deductions for withholding, social security taxes or similar payroll
    deductions. Corporation's obligation to make such payments and provide such
    benefits to Employee shall terminate in the event of termination of
    Employee's employment with corporation for any reason.



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    4. OFFICE; EXPENSES. Corporation shall provide to Employee such office
    space, furniture, materials, supplies and secretarial help as are necessary
    or appropriate hereunder. Employee shall be entitled to reimbursement for
    all out-of-pocket expenses incurred on behalf of the Corporation in the
    conduct of his employment and which are accounted for in such fashion as may
    reasonably be required by the Corporation.

    5. MEDICAL INSURANCE; FRINGE BENEFITS. Employee shall be entitled to
    participate in such medical and health benefit protection, life insurance
    coverage, or other fringe benefits as are provided by the Corporation to its
    employees generally or its management employees generally and such other
    fringe benefits as the Board of Directors may establish from time to time
    for the benefit of Employee.

    6. TRADE SECRETS. Employee agrees not to divulge (other than in the normal
    pursuit of Corporation's business) to any unauthorized person or use for
    other than Corporation's sole benefit at any time while he is employed and
    after he is employed by Corporation, the names and addresses of any past,
    present or prospective customers of Corporation, or any of Corporation's
    procedures, processes, systems, methods, forms and records or other
    information of whatever nature acquired by him as an employee, it being
    understood that the foregoing are trade secrets of Corporation and are
    disclosed to Employee in confidence. For the purposes of this Paragraph 6,
    the term "Corporation" shall include Corporation and any affiliated company.

    7. TERMINATION. The term of employment of Employee hereunder shall be
    considered to terminate upon the occurrence of any of the following (with
    the provisions in this Paragraph 7 not to be construed as limiting
    Corporation's ability to otherwise terminate Employee's employment following
    the term hereof).

         7.1      DEATH OF EMPLOYEE. The death of Employee.

         7.2      DISABILITY OF EMPLOYEE. For purposes of this Agreement,
                  Employee shall be considered to be disabled if he is unable to
                  perform his services hereunder for a continuous period of
                  ninety (90) consecutive calendar days by reason of physical or
                  mental illness or incapacity. If there is any dispute as to
                  whether Employee is or was physically or mentally unable to
                  perform his duties hereunder, such question shall be submitted
                  to a licensed physician for determination, If the parties
                  cannot agree upon a licensed physician for purposes of making
                  such determination within five (5) days after written notice
                  by one party to the other, then both parties shall each select
                  a licensed physician who together shall appoint a third
                  licensed physician who will then make such determination. The
                  determination of such physician as to such mental or physical
                  condition of Employee shall be binding and conclusive upon the
                  parties. A disability shall be considered as a continuing
                  disability unless Employee returns to full-time employment
                  rendering all of the duties of his position pursuant to
                  Paragraph 1, above, for a period of sixty (60) consecutive
                  calendar days.

         7.3      THE COMMISSION OF A PROHIBITED ACT BY EMPLOYEE. A prohibited
                  act shall be any of the following if committed by Employee
                  directly r indirectly without the prior written approval of an
                  officer of Corporation.

                  (a) Commission of an act of dishonesty or gross negligence
                  involving Corporation;



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                  (b) Disclosure to an unauthorized person of the information
                  described in Paragraph 6, above, or of any other information
                  which would be beneficial to a business competitive with
                  Corporation or which could be materially disadvantageous to
                  Corporation;

                  (c) Rendering advice or assistance to a business competitive
                  with the Corporation;

                  (d) Becoming a proprietor who or a shareholder, officer or
                  director of a corporation, or a member of a partnership or
                  trustee of a trust which conducts business competitive with
                  Corporation, or an employee or agent thereof.

                  (e) For purposes of subparagraphs (b), (c) and (d) above, a
                  business competitive with Corporation is any business, firm or
                  entity engaged directly or indirectly in any business now or
                  hereafter engaged in by Corporation, or any company affiliated
                  therewith.

         7.4      AGREEMENT. By mutual agreement of the parties.

         7.5      DISMISSAL. Dismissal of employee by Corporation or termination
                  of services by employee after the expiration of the original
                  term hereof.

    8. INSURANCE. Corporation shall have the right to insure its obligation
    hereunder and to obtain such key man life insurance on the Employee as it
    deems necessary or appropriate and Employee agrees to cooperate as may be
    necessary or appropriate in order to obtain such insurance.

    9. ARBITRATION. All claims, disputes and other matters in question between
    the parties to this Agreement arising out of or relating to this Agreement
    or the breach thereof, other than under Paragraph 7, hereof, shall be
    decided by arbitration in accordance with the Commercial Disputes
    Arbitration Rules of the American Arbitration Association then obtaining.
    Notice of the demand for arbitration shall be filed in writing with the
    other party to this agreement and with the American Arbitration Association.
    The award rendered by the arbitrator shall be final and judgement may be
    entered upon it in accordance with applicable law in any court having
    jurisdiction thereof. Arbitration hereunder shall take place in Grand
    Rapids, Michigan.

    10. WAIVER OF BREACH. The waiver by the Corporation of the breach of any of
    the provisions of this Agreement shall not be deemed a waiver by Corporation
    of any subsequent breach.

    11. BINDING EFFECT. This Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the
    benefit of the parties hereto and their respective heirs, successors and
    assigns.

    12. GOVERNING LAW. This Agreement is made in the State of Michigan and shall
    be interpreted in accordance with the laws thereof.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed this Agreement on the day,
month and year first above written.


RIVIERA TOOL COMPANY                                KENNETH K. RIETH
By: /s/ Peter C. Canepa                             By: /s/ Kenneth K. Rieth
    -------------------                                -------------------------
It's Chief Financial Officer




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