Distribution and manufacturing celebrated individual associates and entire facilities with awards that recognized achievements, community service and dedication to Publix.
Distribution
Manufacturing
Awards recognize safe work facilities
Distribution
Vice President of Distribution Richard Schuler (now retired) recognized 41 departments that worked safely and have gone at least six months without an incident, and 25 more departments who reached multiple-year safety records. Each department received a plaque to commemorate the accomplishment.
“Safety is one of our core values in our distribution centers,” said Richard. “Our associates work very hard to maintain safe working environments for themselves and their co-workers, and I’m proud to recognize them for protecting our people.”
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Manufacturing
Vice President of Manufacturing Jeff Stephens also celebrated associates’ achievements.
The Atlanta bakery plant received the Operational Excellence Award, which recognizes the facility with the best overall performance in the areas of safety, product quality, plant culture, continuous improvement and financial results. Associates at this facility will receive a special celebration and shirts to commemorate their achievement.
Manufacturing also presented the Servant Leadership Award to three associates who go above and beyond to perpetuate Publix’s culture. Each associate received a plaque and a Publix gift card. The Servant Leadership Award winners were
- Manager of Manufacturing and Industrial Maintenance Administration and Training Danielle Moses
- Senior Purchasing Analyst Devaughn Jackson and
- Lakeland dairy plant General Manager Greg Rudolph.
“Mr. George set the example for servant leadership, and these associates do a wonderful job of emulating that in their workplaces,” said Jeff. “Our culture is the foundation of our company, and the winners of this award work very hard to perpetuate it.”
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Online Exclusive
Awards recognize safe work facilities
The Safety Award recognizes an entire team of associates who consistently strive to make their facility a safe place. Publix evaluated several factors, including incident frequency, cost rates, percent improvement over last year and how each location proactively manages safety.
For their contributions to safety, each associate at the winning facility receives a Safety Award lapel pin, and each location receives $500 to host a celebration of this recognition.
Distribution
Lakeland Refrigerated Warehouse
Warehouse Operations Manager Mike Lester
What was your reaction when you heard your facility won this award?
I was excited and extremely proud of our team for this accomplishment. Our managers and associates have worked very hard to improve our safety performance in Lakeland refrigerated distribution.
How do you and your associates make sure your facility is a safe place to work?
Safety is a core value at Publix. The importance of working safely is communicated at every opportunity. Our associates are well-trained and understand the potential risks associated with working in a warehouse environment, so they look out for themselves and each other. We have excellent leaders, both formal and informal, who ensure safety is part of our culture.
What advice do you have for other facilities to improve safety?
Safety has to be a primary focus in everything we do. Quality safety training is a must, and the communication and awareness regarding safe work habits must be continuous. The key to success is associate engagement in ensuring we all work safely, encourage others to work safely and take the initiative to address unsafe conditions.
Manufacturing
Atlanta Dairy Plant
General Manager Doug Harris
What was your reaction when you heard your facility won this award?
Initially I was very surprised. The competition across manufacturing is very tough, and I know all of our facilities work extremely hard to provide a safe environment for our associates. Once I was able to absorb the idea that we won the award, I couldn’t help but feel a strong sense of pride for the associates in the plant. I am so very proud to see the effort and hard work paid off. It is such a great team effort to win an award like this, and it doesn’t happen without the commitment from everyone involved.
How do you and your associates make sure your facility is a safe place to work?
The key to making the Atlanta dairy a safe place to work is having everyone involved in the process. We rely on every associate in the plant to make safety a success. As the Publix Mission states, we are committed to the dignity and value of our associates, and ensuring a safe workplace is just who we are. We care about each other like family, and we treat each other that way.
What advice do you have for other facilities to improve safety?
Publix associates are the greatest asset our company has, and treating them that way makes the difference. Invest the time to educate your associates and, most importantly, invest in them as people. Build strong relationships with your teams, spend time to understand the challenges and obstacles, and work together to develop solutions.
