I’m not an artist. I don’t have the word “designer” in my title. I repeatedly fail to master those pesky Pinterest projects that haunt me at night. But I’m still creative – at least, I’m working on it.
There are two big misconceptions about creativity. The first is that creativity is solely artistry. Just because you can’t design a fancy graphic for a presentation or sketch your self-portrait, it doesn’t mean you’re not creative!
The second misconception is that creativity is a talent. Many believe that you are either born with a creative gene or you’re not. But creativity is a skill, and you can work to improve it over time.
If you’re trying to develop your creativity, keep these three tips in mind:
When was the last time you pushed past the easy ideas for that “aha” moment? As adults, leaving behind what we know can prove challenging or can really bother us. (Farewell, carefree nature.) Acting silly or being adventurous is often reserved for children – but it shouldn’t be. Continue reading
Historically, it has been commonplace for manufacturers in the bedding industry to compress mattress springs and roll encased coils to reduce shipping costs. The rolling of finished mattresses, however, had seemed too difficult a challenge to overcome. But about a decade ago, when low-end foam mattresses from Asia began entering the market – with the finished mattresses rolled and boxed – the challenge was renewed.
A Roll-Pack Partnership
Leggett & Platt’s Global Systems Group (GSG) noticed customer interest in a roll-pack approach and sought out Italian manufacturer Teknomac for a solution. Since GSG already partnered with Teknomac on a number of machine solutions, it was a natural pairing.
Terry Myers, Director of Engineering at GSG, served as an advocate to test and perfect the Teknomac roll-pack machines. Ultimately, the Teknomac provided a workable solution for GSG customers – one previously thought impossible.
Tony Garrett, President of GSG, and Terry Myers, Director of Engineering, with a Teknomac machine and roll-pack mattress.
“During a recent trip to interview candidates at Genesis Seating, a colleague showed me around Grand Haven – only a short 40-minute drive from Grand Rapids.” Fredrick Njoroge, Senior Talent Advisor at Corporate. [Grand Haven, Michigan, USA]
“Sand volleyball on the shores of Lake Michigan!” Fredrick Njoroge, Senior Talent Advisor at Corporate. [Grand Haven, Michigan, USA]
“After working all day at Genesis Seating, I enjoyed a nice dinner and took in the sights of downtown Grand Rapids.” Fredrick Njoroge, Senior Talent Advisor at Corporate. [Grand Rapids, Michigan, USA]
“I capped off my trip with a walk down the Grand Haven pier. I’m thankful for the opportunity to enjoy sights like this while on business trips!” Fredrick Njoroge, Senior Talent Advisor at Corporate. [Grand Haven, Michigan, USA]
“Learn. Work. Have fun. I try to keep all three balanced throughout my day, and my workspace shows it!” Kevin Nolte, Mechanical Engineer at Adjustable Bed. [Carthage, Missouri, USA]
“Every day I pass this milestone board, and I’m impressed and inspired by our long-term employees. It says a lot about our branch and Leggett & Platt as a whole.” Melissa McAskill, HR Manager at Ennis Spring. [Ennis, Texas, USA]
“Since I’m in a creative role, I use a lot of sticky notes for reminders and sudden strokes of inspiration.” Abby DeWelt, L&D Design Specialist at Corporate. [Carthage, Missouri, USA]
“Leggett’s people are our greatest asset,” says Karl Glassman, President and CEO. “But it’s really about the right group of people, empowered with the right knowledge, resources, and authority, working together in the right roles for the right result.” At L&P Automotive Europe, this concept is transforming Sales & Operations Planning (S&OP) from the ground up.
A New Direction
With a goal of profitable growth, a teamwork-based approach is revolutionizing the way the group interacts, reacts to customer demand, and plans for the future. Group collaboration across the entire S&OP process has all team members engaged in each step, and it allows their areas of expertise to enhance operations at every level.
S&OP is a five-step process to review projections for demand, supply, and the resulting financial impact, which then helps with inventory management, promotional planning, accurate budget forecasting, and managing product lifecycles.
“After recently attending a three-day L&P leadership conference at Corporate, a friend of mine who lives in Arkansas arranged for his friend to fly me to dinner in his light aircraft!” Simon Dootson, General Manager at David Hart Aerospace Pipes – England. [Joplin, Missouri, USA]
“The three of us had dinner at The Flying Catfish (great fish tacos!) before we flew back to Joplin, landing on a grass field airstrip after dark.” Simon Dootson, General Manager at David Hart Aerospace Pipes – England. [Bentonville, Arkansas, USA]
“It was a beautiful sunset and topped off an incredible week visiting Corporate!” Simon Dootson, General Manager at David Hart Aerospace Pipes – England. [somewhere in between Bentonville, Arkansas and Joplin, Missouri]
In 1986, Leggett & Platt acquired a company that would grow to be one of its most reliably profitable divisions. At the time of the acquisition, MPI was a company based out of Fort Worth, Texas that produced bonded foam carpet cushioning. Today, LP Carpet Cushion (LPCC) is an industry leader when it comes to developing innovative products and anticipating customer needs.
Dedicated to the Customer
“Customer service is one of our biggest areas of focus,” said Jerry Wahrmund, East Coast Regional Operations Manager. Jerry joined Leggett & Platt in 1995, and he oversees five Carpet Cushion operations on the East Coast.
“We do a lot of multi-stop deliveries for our customers. Having a fast turnaround on orders is important for us. We work both with the Corporate Transportation team, as well as having our own fleets of trucks that are unique to specific branches. We want to be certain we can facilitate any special delivery needs.”
Tammy Hook, HR & Special Project Coordinator in Fort Worth, echoed Jerry. “You have to find a way to keep your customers with you. Within the market of carpet padding, we really only have a few competitors. You have to find a way to shine, beyond just trying to undercut prices. For us, we do that by providing an outstanding customer experience.”
Two of LPCC’s finest: Branch Manager Jacinto Ramos (left) with Central Regional Sales Manager Michael Moore. This September will mark Jacinto’s 48th year with L&P!
That emphasis on customer service, combined with outstanding quality of product, means L&P flooring products can be found in an astonishing number of buildings throughout North America. “We work directly with big box retailers,” Jerry continued, “so you can find our product in many home improvement stores. We also sell to the hospitality industry and to carpet installers. We really are everywhere.” Continue reading
