Server: Netscape-Communications/1.1 Date: Thursday, 18-Dec-97 04:47:19 GMT Last-modified: Wednesday, 26-Jun-96 14:19:12 GMT Content-length: 5428 Content-type: text/html
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Technology drives innovation for the Fabrics Group, and at no place is this more evident than at Guilford. With the single largest capital expenditure- in lnterface's history, the company broke ground last spring for a new yarn manufacturing plant to increase efficiency and respond to a market shift toward lighter weight products. By fourth quarter 1995, this state-of-the-art facility,
which has been benchmarked worldwide, had been equipped with the most advanced technology in the world to provide optimum yarn capabilities. The plant officially opened late in 1995, with the completion of phase one, and is expected to be fully operational by the third quarter of 1996. The facility's automated woolen system and on-line, real time quality monitoring systems are expected to positively affect labor and resource utilization, reduce manufacturing cycle times, and simplify both customer service and operations.
Computerized connections also resulted in seamless communication and more responsive customer service with the newly established warehouse and distribution system in Grand Rapids, Michigan. This integrated system provides Guilford with unprecedented delivery service.
Building on its base of confined, proprietary OEM products for major office furniture manufacturers, the company's open line product offering continues to grow. At the same time, Guilford's Textile Resources division diversified and expanded into upholstery and decorative products in 1995.
Internationally, Guilford experienced a growth rate of more than 25% in 1995, despite a slower than expected economic recovery in Europe. It also began the process of developing international service strategies to better satisfy, in particular, the needs of the increasingly important Asian market. Guilford is building this and other international markets by placing its people and products closer to its customers around the world.
Balancing with the group's global outreach, initiatives for employee empowerment through education and training have been woven into the fabric of the organization's culture. Guilford's commitment to employees was demonstrated at "Awareness '95," a company-wide meeting where strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, threats, and strategies for success were evaluated. Out of this event came a refinement of Guilford's long term vision, values, and purpose.
Guilford University (GU) symbolizes Guilford's philosophy of putting people first," offering to all employees ongoing education and training in new technologies. Far exceeding expectations, GU has expanded beyond its initial concept to include partnerships with local technical colleges and universities. Building on such initiatives has established a foundation for Guilford's future, as the results of investments made in employees are continually reflected in improved product quality and customer service.
Finally, connectivity between Guilford and its sister companies was furthered by Guilford's commitment to the universal Interface mission to become a leader in industrial ecology. To that end, Guilford established an environmental initiative for 1996 to achieve ISO DIS 14001 (provisional Environmental Management Standard) certification. Other promising ecological programs for reaching sustainability include emissions reductions, residuals management, utilization of composting and reed bed technology, and development of polyester fabric recycling.
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