Customers Bring Unique Perspective to Best Practices Workshop
"Best Practices" are two very important words at PotashCorp.
Bringing employees from each production site to a multi-day meeting once a year to share successes and concerns is an important part of its Best Practices program. It's also a major component of the company's business process improvement strategy.
In 2007, the Best Practices Workshop got a unique perspective on business operations when Ohio-based ag retailer The Andersons became the first customer to participate. The collaborative effort was a resounding success with each company sharing its expertise.
"The whole idea of a workshop like this is for people at different facilities to explore how others deal with issues such as safety, communications and operating efficiencies," said PotashCorp Chief Operating Officer Jim Dietz. "By including The Andersons' outside perspective, both they and we were able to see what works and what doesn't, and share the kind of ideas that can help a facility constantly improve."
"From a customer's perspective, PotashCorp has always meant quality. During this workshop, we've also seen your commitment to an outstanding safety culture," said Denny Addis, President of The Andersons' Plant Nutrient Division. "It's one we want to emulate."
Employees of the two companies delved into subjects such as safety, leadership, internal communications, preventive maintenance and business ethics. Several presentations and interactive discussions focused on PotashCorp's successes with its safety system, which uses the Behavioral Accident Prevention Process, BAPP®.
Safety discussions proved to be so constructive that the two companies held a follow-up safety meeting at PotashCorp's Northbrook, IL office.
Customer participation in the Best Practices Workshop generated such valuable dialogue that PotashCorp has invited another customer, multi-state ag retailer Southern States Cooperative, to its 2008 meeting in Richmond, VA.