Good morning.
In 1989, Milliken & Co. won the Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award. I know this because my father worked there and announced it over dinner as if he’d won the Oscar. He talked about the innovation, technology, and focus that went into this old-school Spartanburg textile manufacturer getting America’s top quality award. My dad didn’t just sell carpet. He was handling the work of designers, scientists, and technologists. He made manufacturing sound cool.
I thought of that recently when talking to Mark Rayfield, the CEO of Saint-Gobain North America. This 364-year-old company is cool: “We started by making the mirrors of the Palace of Versailles.” Now, it’s on the cutting edge of sustainable construction and innovative new materials. One of Rayfield’s priorities is “getting the message out that manufacturing is a great career.” He’s right.
