At L&P, we’re inspired by our colleagues who go above and beyond to enhance our businesses. This month, we’re sharing stories of women at L&P who have improved our products and processes with their creativity and leadership.

Meet Amelia Holt! Amelia started at Leggett in May of 2025 as a Manufacturing Engineer Intern at Genesis Seating in Grand Rapids, Michigan.

What is a day at work like for you?

Every day looks a little different for me. Some days I spend most of my time at my computer designing new carts, stands, and fixtures, or reworking the layout for a production line. Other days I’m in maintenance or out on the floor fabricating fixtures, building prototypes, or testing designs. Most days are a mix of both – there’s always a new project to work on.

How have you improved L&P processes and products?

I have worked on many different projects since I started at Genesis Seating. I’ve improved our recycling processes by streamlining documentation, correcting labeling, and advancing efforts toward textile recycling.

My main job is supporting our manufacturing lines, from initial implementation through continuous improvement. I have redesigned several cell layouts to increase productivity and reduce operator movement. I’ve also helped implement two new manufacturing lines since I joined the company, and I’m looking forward to working on a third soon.

I’m always looking for opportunities to integrate new technologies into our lines and am never afraid to get my hands dirty. From welding and milling to using a table saw – and everything in between – I’ve learned to work with my hands to complete projects quickly and accurately.

What challenges have you faced while working to improve our business, and how did you overcome them?

I have faced many challenges working to improve the business for Leggett & Platt. As an intern, I run into roadblocks all the time due to lack of knowledge. I am in the process of designing a rotating fixture that needs to lock at certain degrees. I came up with the idea of having it rotate through a lazy Susan and lock with a pin and holes in a plate at certain degrees. When I showed it to my supervisor, he showed me a rotating mechanism with a built‑in lock. I could have saved some time if I had known that, but you don’t know what you don’t know. Now I know for future projects.

I’ve also learned that understanding processes is just as important as understanding the engineering. Early on, I asked an operator to test a potential new process that might be added to a manufacturing line. The line supervisor wasn’t happy, and I had to explain that I wasn’t trying to bypass them or take an operator away from the line – I simply didn’t know the proper procedure. Now I know to communicate with the line supervisor first before moving anything forward.

But my biggest challenge is one most designers face: staying motivated when a prototype isn’t working and I have to start over with a new revision. It can be frustrating, but I believe that if you don’t learn from a challenge, the time spent wasn’t worth it. So I keep testing, adjusting, and trying new ideas until I get it right.

How do you approach problem-solving?

Problem solving is basically my entire job – I love it. With any problem, I try to break it down into small steps. Then I ask: What do I know? What is the urgency? What can I do right now? And what is my timeline for the problem?

Depending on the problem, I might need to implement a temporary fix until I can finish a permanent one. Problems are like puzzles – you have to take them piece by piece until you can see the entire picture. It’s always very satisfying when I can fix a problem, especially if I can help make someone’s life a little easier.

What do you like to do outside of work?

I’m also a student at Grand Valley State University, working to finish my bachelor’s degree in Product Design and Manufacturing Engineering. I am the president of one of the campus ministries, and I enjoy organizing events to spend time with and get to know other students. I especially love it when I have time to play my violin in the worship band.

I’m also a huge architecture fan; I love walking around cities and admiring the design and structure of the buildings.