Media Contact:
Peter Gourlay
410-576-0022
Press Release
Featuring Inside Unilever– Thursday, May 9, 2002
8:30 to 11:00 am, Unilever Home & Personal Care-Baltimore Plant, Baltimore, MD
****
Total Productive Manufacturing" and "Enterprise Culture" at Unilever
****
For Immediate Release: Unilever Shares Success Story with Baltimore Firms
May 10, 2002 by Peter Gourlay
On Thursday, May 9 about 50 attendees from small and large area firms were invited to Unilever's Baltimore plant as part of the Inside Series program, a partnership between Maryland's Regional Manufacturing Institute (RMI) and the World Trade Center Institute (WTCI). "Unilever's willingness to host this program allows us to share their experience with smaller firms who can benefit from such a mentoring effort," said Mike Galiazzo, Director RMI. The Inside Series allows RMI and WTCI to share corporate success stories from Maryland firms like Unilever with their collective membership enabling them to incorporate new ideas and make new connections to help their business. "Our companies want to hear from corporate leaders on how they adopted cutting edge technology and manufacturing processes which have increased productivity while positioning them to compete more effectively on a global basis," said Deborah Kielty, President of WTCI.
Unilever is a $50 billion multinational consumer products firm with plant operations in over 88 countries. The multinational firm employs approximately 500 Baltimore employees at its home and personal care plant in Baltimore City, where they manufacture Wisk, Dove, 'all', Surf, Final Touch and Snuggle. Unilever also has a foods plant on Southwestern Boulevard in Baltimore County, a Lipton facility where they make margarine and other food products. This program provided attendees with a unique opportunity to get an inside look at a major Baltimore manufacturer and hear plant managers discuss the success of the Holabird Avenue Plant. "Our Total Productive Manufacturing (TPM) approach has allowed our Baltimore plant to ach achieve great customer service with low finished goods inventories," said Gary Sysak, Plant Manager. Mr. Sysak cites Unilever's eight pillars of TPM as a critical corporate ethos driving the success of the organization.
"It's fascinating to step inside a world class organization like Unilever and see their corporate culture," said Jarrett Leeb, an executive with Jarrett Industries. Mr. Leeb was intrigued with how Unilever has worked with its employees and its unions to develop a united approach to success. "If you can get 95% of your employees committed to the firm's objectives, you're doing alright, and Unilever exemplifies that well," he said.
Attending firms found tremendous value in the morning program. Several presentations were made by key plant managers and all seemed to emphasize teamwork. "I was really struck by the fact that such a large firm seems to have such a family atmosphere, where people pitch in for the company's benefit," said Jim Knutson, an executive with Phillips Seafood, Inc.
In an era where firms hear about manufacturers closing shop and moving production overseas to cheaper locations, it was inspirational to hear how Unilever's Baltimore plant is increasing production and effectively competing with developing economies like China and Mexico. "Unilever's Baltimore success proves they can pay high wage salaries and attract top notch people while still staying competitive in the global marketplace," said Steve Siperko, Facilities Manager with Marquip Ward, Inc. "What's most impressive is that they're doing it better than anyone else," he said.
The RMI-WTCI Inside Series allows host firms the opportunity to tell their story to the local business community. "We've recently realized that many business people aren't aware we are here, or what we represent," said Mr. Sysak. "Our Baltimore plant is Unilever's largest plant in the world. We've been in Baltimore since 1938 and the Inside Series program gives us the opportunity to tell our story. We're proud of what we do at our plant, who we are and what we do in our community," he said.
Attending firms were equally enthusiastic about the RMI-WTCI inspired program.
"I can't wait for their next event in July at DAP," said Mr. Leeb. "You never know who you're going to meet, it's a good opportunity to learn and also to make great connections," he said.
Featured Companies in the Inside Series:
· Inside Unilever-May 9, 2002
· Inside McCormick-March 14, 2002
· Inside DAP-July 11, 2002
· Inside Northrop Grumman-September 12, 2002
· Inside Phillip Foods-November 14, 2002
For more information about upcoming Inside Series events at DAP, Northrop Grumman and Phillips Seafood call Jeanette Higgins at 410-576-0022.
****