by Charles Engrem, Director of Aquafeed Process, Wenger
Manufacturing
What defines an excellent leader of a manufacturing plant that produces extruded feed products? What sets an excellent leader apart from the norm? What does operational excellence look like for extrusion-based manufacturing processes?
I’ve been part of this industry for more than 35 years, and I have learned excellence can be spotted within a few minutes of stepping into a plant. There will be a crispness in the visual, a clear desire to welcome visitors with open arms, and a sense of urgency to focus on today’s goals.
What defines an excellent leader of a manufacturing plant that produces extruded feed products? What sets an excellent leader apart from the norm? What does operational excellence look like for extrusion-based manufacturing processes?
I’ve been part of this industry for more than 35 years, and I have learned excellence can be spotted within a few minutes of stepping into a plant. There will be a crispness in the visual, a clear desire to welcome visitors with open arms, and a sense of urgency to focus on today’s goals.
The fact that there is an extruder onsite is not what defines excellence. What defines a well-led plant is one where the customer orders are being delivered on time and in full at an expected quality over the life of the plant. But that does not happen naturally, nor does it happen overnight.
The demands of a modern plant manager are complex, and those who are disciplined at executing activities through their team will be the winners. It requires companies to be intentional about development and setting future leaders up for success. Through decades of supporting and overseeing plant operations, I have a few insights to share on leadership and driving operational excellence:
Leadership requires development and practice—and time
It is the natural tendency of new and inexperienced plant manager trainees to believe their education alone qualifies them to be a leader and that they will be ready to go day one.
I cannot tell you how many times I’ve witnessed a trainee fail to reach leadership level because they weren’t given the right development and/or they were placed into a leadership role too soon. During my tenure in a director of operations role, less than 10 percent of the plant managers under my wing ever became ready to lead a plant in fewer than six months— it could take 18 to 24 months for someone with no leadership experience to be fully prepared to lead a team. Novice manager trainees should be given time to work with and learn from effective leaders, whether through mentorships or as an assistant.
Read more, HERE.
The Aquaculturists
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