News You Can Use

RTA NEWS YOU CAN USE
September 16, 2013

THREE NICE PHONE CALLS  & VISITS AND TODAY WE WILL NAME NAMES

If you are reading this and are an RTA member you know that we try to make at least three phone calls daily to our members, simply to check in and find out if they have any special needs. This is also our way of keeping in touch with our members. When it is possible to visit we will also do so.

Today I want to tell you about three interesting conversations we had and I am naming names because each of the members shown below deserves a big ATTABOY!

McGriff Treading Company, Inc., Cullman, Alabama

While speaking to Randy Drake recently he mentioned that one of their retread plants was producing approximately 500 retreads daily. When I asked him if he had any comments regarding how he kept his output up and his adjustment rate under 1%. He told me the following (I paraphrase but the essence is exactly what he said). "We hire good people, pay them well, give them the best equipment to work with and we use the best quality materials, and most important, we treat them like decent human beings and give all of them the respect they deserve."

Service Tire Truck Centers, York, Pennsylvania

When visiting Allen Kershner and walking through his plant that also produced approximately 500 retreads daily I said I'd bet I know what his adjustment rate was. "Go ahead," he said. I said it was less than 1%. "You lose," he said. "It's under ½ %" Seeing how modern his plant was and how well he was treating his people it didn't surprise me. Everyone in the plant was being treated with respect and everyone I observed seemed to being enjoying what he was doing.

Central Texas Retreading LLC, Elm Mott, Texas

Todd Calandra made a great statement when we were discussing how well his plant was operating. "You are only as good as your weakest employee."

All three of the above companies realized how important it is to treat your people well and give them the respect they deserve. And for that I offer three well deserved ATTABOYS!

In closing I am certain many of our other members are just as respectful and caring for their employees as the above three companies. And to those of you who are, I offer ATTABOYS to each and every one of you.

PS: If you are not treating your people as well as you would like to be treated, maybe its time to change your ways. In a future memo I'll tell you a story about clean bathrooms and what it has to do with running a successful retread plant. Please watch for it.

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THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

When the going gets tough

The tough get going.