Around CGC
In this issue:
Danville Soldier Begins Recovery
PFC Timothy Adam Smith of the Danville complex returned home last week after more than a month at Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington. Adam was critically injured by a bomb on August 10 while on duty in Iraq, and received a Purple Heart for his bravery and courage in the line of duty.
The bomb shattered Adam’s left jawbone and his right jawbone was broken. He has since had surgery which involved using bone from his hip to reconstruct his left jaw and steel plates to repair the broken right jaw. Adam is currently on military leave from the Danville complex where he has worked for a year and a half.
Over the last few weeks, Danville employees have contributed over $1,000 to Adam’s family by holding a bake sale and taking donations. The Wayne Farms LLC Corporate office also contributed $2,500 to help the family.
Adam’s family remained by his side throughout his time in the hospital. His father, Stan, who also works at the Danville complex, said, "Adam is in very good spirits and still has a great sense of humor. He is making progress everyday. We can never thank everyone enough for their prayers and generosity in our time of need."
–Tammy Braden and Sonya Craig
Recognizing Service in Iraq
Wayne Farms is proud to recognize 17 employees currently serving in the U.S. Reserves in Iraq. We honor their courage and know they are serving far from home in dangerous conditions and at great personal sacrifice.
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Arthur White
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College Park, GA
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Charlie Hawkins
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Enterprise, AL
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Lancy Crawford
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Danville, AR
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Willie Hornsby
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Enterprise, AL
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Joseph Laster
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Danville, AR
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Nora Liptrop
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Enterprise, AL
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Davie Minnie
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Danville, AR
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Michael Mitchell
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Enterprise, AL
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Stephen Richardson
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Danville, AR
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Timothy E. Rodgers
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Enterprise, AL
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Timothy Adam Smith
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Danville, AR
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Renard Harper
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Laurel, MS
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Starla Allen
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Decatur, AL
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Lauren Johnson
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Laurel, MS
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Christopher Morgan
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Pendergrass, GA
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Dereck Whitfield
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Laurel, MS
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Joseph Shepherd
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Union Springs, AL
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XIT Mill Wins on Safety
At the close of business on July 30, the feed mill at XIT Feeders completed 12 years without a lost-time accident. XIT's feed mill runs 365 days per year and manufactures 360,000 tons of feed annually. Their long-standing record is evidence of their commitment to safety. Long-time Mill Manager Daryl Stull and his employees regularly conduct safety meetings and participate in industry safety programs to further their knowledge. Congratulations to Daryl and his team!
–Ben Fort
Laurel Joins in 2004 "Relay for Life"
Employees at the Laurel complex have raised a total of $19,453 for the 2004 American Cancer Society Relay for Life in Jones County, Mississippi, to help support cancer patients in their community.
The Laurel complex began raising money in August 2003 with a goal of $10,000 and has nearly doubled its original goal. Employees raised money on their own and also contributed through payroll deductions. Individual departments at the complex also contributed.
After losing mutual friends to cancer in 1999, 15 complex employees joined together to help raise $1,000. Now, more than 500 employees, lead by team captain Bo Geiger, participate year-round to help the American Cancer Society and Jones County in the fight against cancer.
Glenn Caves, Complex Manager for the Laurel facility, is proud of his fellow Wayne Farms employees. "This effort proves that little things really do count," he stated. "The genuine desire Wayne Farms employees had to help others was evident."
Plant employees are already gearing up for another successful year of fundraising. They plan to begin raising money for the 2005 Relay for Life this September. Although a monetary goal has not yet been established, employees expect to exceed their 2004 earnings.
A Close Call with Ivan
Despite the magnitude and ferocity of Hurricane Ivan, Wayne Farms LLC survived the storm with minimal damage and interruption to its business. Three plants close to the path of the hurricane (Laurel, Mississippi and Enterprise and Union Springs, Alabama) were closed on Thursday as a precautionary measure. Other locations in the affected areas of Alabama and Georgia operated a half day or had minor power outages. None of the facilities suffered any structural damage and all were back up and running on Friday morning. All plants that were closed on Thursday planned to operate on Saturday to make up for lost production. Thankfully, no Wayne Farms employees were injured during this storm.
–Kris Carroll
Douglas Complex Helps Storm Victims
The Wayne Farms Douglas complex has donated 1002 cases of canned chicken to the American Red Cross in Tipton, Georgia to help those affected by Hurricanes Charley and Frances.
The American Red Cross is currently focused on providing food, shelter and clothing to thousands following the devastation caused by these hurricanes.
Matt Mitchell, operations manager for the Douglas complex, is pleased to give to those in need. "Donating Wayne Farms LLC chicken is the least we can do to help those who are have lost so much," Mitchell said.
Donating to the American Red Cross is just one of the many contributions the Douglas complex has made this year. They have also contributed to the Southeastern Community Blood Center, the Band Boosters and the Douglas/Coffee County Fire Department/HAZMAT Team on a regular basis.
Foundation Update: 20K Scholarship Available
Scholarship reminder: If your son or daughter is taking the PSAT/NMSQT this fall, they may qualify for the ContiGroup Foundation National Merit scholarship.
The scholarship now provides up to $5,000 a year–$20,000 for four years–for qualified students beginning college in the fall of 2006. Please see the program guidelines and application form more information.
The Foundation also offers matching funds for contributions by CGC employees to U.S. colleges and universities. See program description and application form for details.
As always, the ContiGroup Foundation would like to support your volunteer work and help in your community. Please send your ideas and suggestions to Susan.McIntyre@conti.com.
Oldham's Makes the Grade
Thanks to rising sales and significant new investment over the last year, Oldham's LLC – the company's joint venture with Johnsonville – is off to a strong start. It also has ambitious plans for the future.
The Holton, Kansas-based plant, acquired from ConAgra last April for $4.4 million, processes approximately 600 sows a day, and sells fresh sausage under the Oldham's, Weber's, and Johnsonville labels. Its products are marketed to a wide range of foodservice, fast food, and supermarket customers. As part of the JV agreement, Johnsonville leases the plant's sausage processing area from Oldham's, and has installed some of the industry's most sophisticated equipment in this part of the facility.
The joint venture offers important benefits to both companies. On the one hand, Johnsonville gains additional slaughter capacity without the high cost of new construction. It also benefits from a plant that is geographically closer to its growing markets in the southeastern and southwestern United States.
Meanwhile, PSF gains an additional outlet for its sows – an important advantage in a consolidated market – while also building its relationship with Johnsonville. "We've worked with Johnsonville for several years," says CEO John Meyer, "and Oldham's helps us to further that relationship. It's a good opportunity for us to be part of a successful joint venture with a brand-name company."
During the last year, Oldham's has changed its operation by focusing on larger customers and longer runs, and by reducing its range of product types from 315 to 115. This has significantly cut changeover time and made the operation much more efficient.
In addition, the plant has spent about $3.3 million upgrading the slaughter, boning, and blending areas as well as the Johnsonville brat line. In fact, about 60% of the plant equipment is completely new, notes General Manager Irvin Sanderson.
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Oldham's LLC General
Manager Irvin Sanderson |
"We need to have the same quality as other Johnsonville plants, and have been very aggressive about making these changes," says Irvin, who adds that the work has been complicated by the plant's small size – just 70,000 square feet. "We're essentially trying to fit ten pounds of process into a five-pound box, so it's been a challenge in terms of engineering."
Meanwhile, on the HR side, the company has raised wages and added new benefits. The latter include both a 401(k) and a bonus plan that pays participants $100 a month when the plant meets certain financial, safety, and quality targets. Team members have also gained more job security, explains Jeff Gough, Vice President of Human Resources, thanks to the plant's rising production and higher sales volume.
Last year, employees also voted to decertify their union, the United Food and Commercial Workers, which had organized the plant under the previous owners. The election took place in September and the union was rejected by a 4-to-1 margin.
"The union was not part of the culture of either PSF or Johnsonville, and we felt that it was holding a lot of people back," says Jeff, who notes that most employees recognized that they would have more opportunity under a non-union system. "We were very clear that we preferred to be non-union, but we also showed that we were committed to improving wages and benefits and to sharing the plant's success with our employees."
Along with these changes, the company has also worked to improve communications and encourage ideas and suggestions from hourly team members. Last year, for example, team members provided significant input into the design of the plant's kill floor. "We ended up changing about half the design as a result of their suggestions," says Irvin Sanderson.
Irvin notes that this type of two-way communication was new to a lot of people, and something that the company will continue to work on in the future. "I want team members to be involved and I want to hear their ideas," he says. "I'd like to know what they'd do if their names were out in front and if they were writing the checks."
Over the next year, Oldham's plans to add approximately 20 new team members, increasing the total workforce to about 180. This is likely to be a major challenge – despite the plant's lower turnover – given the small population of Holton and the surrounding area. In addition, the company will consider plans to expand beyond the existing facility, using 100 acres of adjacent, company-owned land.
Overall, the company has accomplished an enormous amount in a relatively short time. "We've now been through two peak seasons and major construction," says Irvin, "and we've done it with both reduced turnover and a strong record on food safety. Given the amount of change we've all experienced over the last year, I think these are major accomplishments."