Today we celebrated the legacy of Jim Hess, former VP of Operations Services, by dedicating a conference room in his honor during a ceremony for his friends and family. For 17 years, Jim’s passion for statistics and continuous improvement impacted many of us at L&P. His work will live on for years to come.
Last Friday, manufacturers across the United States celebrated Manufacturing Day, also known as MFG Day, by opening their doors to showcase the potential of modern manufacturing and inspire the next generation of manufacturers.
This year, five L&P locations hosted MFG Day activities:
• Flex-O-Lators in Carthage, MO
• Flooring Products in Berwick, PA
• Genesis Seating in Kentwood, MI
• Davidson Plyforms in Grand Rapids, MI
• Adjustable Bed (Consumer Products) in Spring Hill, FL
Our Adjustable Bed branch in Spring Hill, Florida, hosted a representative from NAM (National Association of Manufacturers) and a Recruiter in Workforce Development at Pasco-Hernando State College.
They were also visited by students from Bishop McLaughlin Catholic High School.
The Emerging Leader Academy (ELA) annual conference is in full swing at our Corporate Headquarters! We’re hosting nearly 100 L&P employees from across the globe to network, learn from senior leaders, and improve business acumen. What a week it’s already been!
CFO Matt Flanigan networks with ELA participants Andy Cline and Travis Sageser.
Sonia Smith, President of European Automotive, and Joe Espinoza, President of Asian Automotive, check in at the start of the conference.
ELA participants Andy Cline and Jennifer Little.
Mitch Dolloff, President of Specialized Products and Furniture Products, opened day two by sharing his vision for the future L&P.
A small warm-up activity for day two.
Our L&D Program Managers, Rob Sotlar and Stephanie Elliott.
“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.
Last Friday, our Corporate Office got groovy. The 1970s-themed Learn-A-Rama showcased various departments, the faces behind the scenes, and what exactly they do every day. Our employees strolled through the booths and received helpful info on what goes on outside of their own departments. We played games, snacked, solved puzzles… even danced to the Y.M.C.A.! It was a wild success! Here are a few of our favorite photos from the day.
On May 16, our Corporate headquarters was dedicated as the Cornell Campus after Harry M. Cornell, Jr., whose legacy of honesty, commitment, and accountability defines our company culture to this day. The dedication included presentations from Leggett’s leaders, which detailed Harry’s remarkable contributions to the company. Future plans were also announced to erect a statue of Harry at the front office entrance.
As part of the dedication, Leggett unveiled a new sign at the campus entrance.
Far across the parking lot from the corporate offices sits a nondescript little building – it may not look like much from the outside, but inside, you’ll find bright-colored walls, outlandishly decorated offices, and, occasionally, people running around in 1970s-era business attire. That’s because this building is home to Creative Services, Leggett & Platt’s marketing department. CS handles everything from websites and videos to ads and tradeshows for any L&P branch that needs it, as well as for outside clients.
(It also happens to be where I work.)
The department has come a long way since its humble beginnings in 1966, when it was a one-man show devoted to providing logo and design services to both L&P companies and our clients. Continue reading
At Leggett & Platt, we value people who never stop learning. We hire character and train skill; we work diligently to maintain a culture of continuous improvement. That’s why we established the Learning & Development (L&D) team back in 2010: we’re a small group of passionate professionals who fill the learning needs of our salaried and corporate employees. Here’s an overview of how we do L&D at L&P:
To put it simply, we live for the a-ha moment: that sudden realization, insight, or comprehension that happens as people learn. This neurological event, paired with the continual growth of our employees and a lasting impact for the company is our purpose, our cause. It’s why we get out of bed in the morning and come to work for Leggett & Platt every day. Continue reading
Leggett & Platt may have started as a bedding components manufacturer, but through the years, the company has added a diverse spread of capabilities to its line-up. Though some, like furniture and car parts, may be familiar, one surprising addition to L&P was geotextiles.
When Hanes Industries joined L&P in 1993, they focused mostly on the furniture, bedding, and automotive markets, making them a great fit with L&P’s existing endeavors. But in 2004, Hanes began looking into outside areas to find something that would mesh well with its established markets, while adding something new to the mix. They acquired WEBTEC, a geo-synthetics distributor based in Charlotte, NC. Continue reading
Look inside Leggett & Platt and you’ll find employees who are committed to protecting and preserving the environment. On May 16, our Corporate Office kicked off participation in the Eco Initiative, joining over 50 other Leggett & Platt branches who have registered for or implemented the program.
The Eco Initiative provides a system to improve environmental performance in our operations which adds to our track record of environmental stewardship. To date, some of our efforts include energy savings through high-efficiency fluorescent bulbs and condensing units, as well as paper, plastic, aluminum, and cardboard recycling. In 2013, on average, the Corporate Office recycled approximately 30,000 lbs. of paper, 600 lbs. of plastic, and 7,000 lbs. of cardboard each month!
For more information, contact Theresa Block, Director of Environmental Affairs.
