
While some corporations have only
recently discovered the advantages of international
presence and expertise, global operations have been a way
of life for Ferro since the early days of the Company.
For many years, international operations have been the
source of more than half of both sales and profits.
Ferro's early years brought corporate growth
primarily in Europe, followed by Latin America and then
other areas of the globe. While the Company continually
evaluates expansion opportunities worldwide, current
activity has been centered on the major growth economies
of the countries comprising the Association of Southeast
Asian Nations (ASEAN) and other areas of the Far East.
Ferro today maintains operations in 22
countries - and has been associated with 13 of those
countries for at least 25 years, and seven of those for
more than half a century. All told, the Company serves
the specialty material product needs of diversified
industrial customers in over 100 nations.
Throughout the world, quality products and
customer service are Ferro's hallmarks. Particular
emphasis is placed on obtaining and maintaining
International Organization for Standardization (ISO) 9000
quality certification for every operation. Most
businesses achieved certification by the end of 1993,
with several scheduled for certification in 1994.
Ferro and its customers benefit from the broad
international operating experience of the Company's
executive management team, many of whom have years of
firsthand management experience at one or more of Ferro's
foreign subsidiaries.
Ferro's international management approach is
dynamic and responsive, and as conditions change, so does
the Company. For example, each Ferro subsidiary or
foreign operation traditionally was managed by a managing
director resident in an individual country. To better
capitalize on the integrated markets in Europe, Ferro
adopted a pan-European organization in 1992. In addition,
the Company has named global managers for major product
lines.
Ferro's global presence is a strong
competitive advantage. Ferro's technical, marketing and
management personnel are in continuous contact with
customers in every major area of the world. Multinational
customers can be assured of standard products and
consistent quality wherever they have operations. Ferro
also benefits from volume purchasing of key raw materials
on a worldwide basis and from the cost-effective
implementation of best practice product development,
production and customer service approaches in its
facilities worldwide.
|