Crossword Genius

A manufacturer no longer (6)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

former

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'a manufacturer no' is the definition.
Both the answer and definition are adjectives. Perhaps there's an association between them I don't understand?

I cannot understand how the remainder of the clue works.

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(Other definitions for former that I've seen before include "Core for winding an electrical core" , "Previous" , "Of an earlier time" , "Old < prior < departed" , "The first mention of the two" .)

I've seen this clue in The Globe and Mail.
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