April 2017
MiMfg Magazine
13
Polly Products
Sandra Anson
Location
Mulliken
Business Type
Outdoor furnishings made
from recycled plastic
Attribute for Success
People creating a growing
demand for recycled,
earth-friendly products
Polly Products’ amazing
team create long-lasting
products made from
recycled materials — a true
example of 21st century
manufacturing technology.
Self-Classification
Small
growth potential. Larger companies also
tend to have a longer history because it
takes time to grow. Over time, you are
able to build strong relationships with
suppliers and vendors, customers, and
your local community.
Steve Cooper: Mid-sized manufacturers
have a much easier ability to interact
with everyone. We have an open door
policy here that wouldn’t be possible if
we were much larger. Access is really
important — a team member is more
invested in the company’s success when they
are able to converse readily with executives
and know their ideas are being heard.
John Foote: Being a smaller company
brings us closer to our customers.
They’re not just names and numbers in
the database of a large, multi-national
corporation. That closeness allows us to
react quickly as their needs change, as
the markets change, as opportunities
emerge. We can help identify the trends in
the markets we serve because we’re talking
to the people in the field every day.
“
If you aren’t looking forward, you’ll be left behind! Stay in touch with
your customers to learn what they need and what they see on the
horizon. Customer feedback is extremely valuable, and they’ll tell
you, directly or through other sources, what they need and want.
— Sandra Anson
Polly Products
Q: Manufacturers pride themselves
on being lean, both in production
and operationally. As a small,
medium or large company, how
do you focus on being lean?
Dick Sarns: We have an excellent manager
on board who carries out Lean processes
across the company. Our people have
pride in what they do so we work to
find ways to reduce costs without
reducing quality.
John Foote: Morbark firmly believes in
a system of continuous improvements
to products, processes and services.
Over the last 10 years, Morbark has
implemented Lean manufacturing
processes, 5S principles for an engaged
workforce and organized workplaces,
visual parts replenishment (Kanban
system) and a quality management
”
training program. We have changed the
layout of our production lines to improve
efficiency and brought in consultants to
help us improve those processes. Like
any Lean manufacturer, we want to
reduce waste and increase value. The
key to this is understanding the costs
and rewards of all of our activities
throughout the company.
Daryl Adams: Spartan Motors combines
Lean and other manufacturing best
practices into a proprietary approach
we call the Spartan Production System ™ .
It includes manufacturing efficiencies as
one might expect, but it adds an extra
layer of accountability at every step
along the way. It’s an approach that
encourages dialog and behaviors that
contribute to better processes, and
ultimately, better products.