MERC Online Company Interview -
MASCO Builder Cabinet Group Ocala Merillat Plant

MERC Online talks with Carla DeFrank, Human Resources Manager,
MASCO Builder Cabinet Group Ocala Merillat Plant

MERC Online: Please give a brief description of your company's products and services, including any new technologies that your company is exploring. Also, what is the size of your workforce?
  
Masco Builder Cabinet Group Ocala Merillat Plant:  The Masco Builder Cabinet Group is home to the Merillat and Quality Cabinets brands. Our kitchen and bath products are used in both new home construction and remodeling. Currently the Ocala plant is a Merillat manufacturing facility and employs approximately 285 workers.  The Ocala plant has multiple subassembly processes including frame building, finishing, and assembly. The Ocala plant has no finished goods inventory in its facility and everything is shipped on a daily basis to customers to meet Merillat's five-day delivery promise.  The Ocala plant uses technology specific to its needs including, but not limited to: PLC (Programmable Logic Controls), CNC (Numeric Controls), light curtains, and laser scanners for all in-bound and out-bound inventory shipments and automated spray systems for some of our top coat materials.

MERC Online: What would an engineer or technician in your manufacturing operations be expected to do at your company?

Masco Builder Cabinet Group Ocala Merillat Plant:  Both engineers and technicians are employed at the Ocala facility.  Process and manufacturing engineers create plant layouts for equipment design and placement along with the specific processes to follow in making our cabinets.  Technicians make sure equipment functions properly and monitor the computers that operate our automated equipment.

MERC Online: What technical skills do you look for as you hire new employees?

Masco Builder Cabinet Group Ocala Merillat Plant: We look for basic skills such as reading tape measures, prints or drawings; and the ability to read and understand Standard Work (which is essentially the recipe for building a product or completing a process).  Many technical skills are actually taught by our Continuous Improvement Coordinator and staff. We follow the principles of lean manufacturing, Six Sigma (the reduction and prevention of defects), 5S (the method of order, organization and cleanliness within the work area) and the concept of Kaizen (a Japanese term for small, continuous, incremental improvements to a process). ALL employees are expected to contribute his or her ideas for process improvements – not just the engineers.

MERC Online: List the top three interpersonal skills that you would like to see in new employees.

Masco Builder Cabinet Group Ocala Merillat Plant: We look for proven history of working in a team environment, good time management and the ability to accept changes constantly.  Those that are promoted move on to specialized training and coursework provided by Central Florida Community College. Examples of that training include: time management, building an environment of trust with in the workplace, leading change, conflict resolution and balancing both work and life priorities.

MERC Online: What do you think is the most important skill for a manufacturing engineer to have in your company?

Masco Builder Cabinet Group Ocala Merillat Plant: Engineers must be able to communicate intelligently to the workers on the plant floor without speaking “over his/her head.” This includes simplifying technical terms as needed and providing relevant examples.
 
MERC Online: How valuable in your operation is it for a new employee to have an Associate Degree?

Masco Builder Cabinet Group Ocala Merillat Plant: We value all levels of education; however, we understand that not everyone has the opportunity to get a college degree before entering the job market.  We encourage continuing education after high school and during employment.  There are some forms of tuition reimbursement available along with scholarship opportunities at Central Florida Community College from the Masco BCG and the Marion Regional Manufacturers Association.  Having at least an AS degree is important when we look at opportunities for internal promotion.

MERC Online: Do you encourage your existing employees to obtain an associate degree if they do not already have one?

Masco Builder Cabinet Group Ocala Merillat Plant: Absolutely.

MERC Online: How many positions in your company require an associate degree? How many require a bachelors degree?

Masco Builder Cabinet Group Ocala Merillat Plant: Approximately 5 require Bachelor's degrees and 4 require Associate's degrees.

MERC Online: How is an employee's long-term advancement affected by continuing education?

Masco Builder Cabinet Group Ocala Merillat Plant: Advancement opportunities are greater with a degree than without one.

MERC Online: If you could talk to manufacturing educators, what suggestions or comments would you pass on to them?

Masco Builder Cabinet Group Ocala Merillat Plant: Treat school as the students' first exposure to the job environment by requiring that students adhere to traditional workplace requirements such as:  Be at work/school on time.  Do the best possible work/make good grades.  Accept that challenges can be fun and rewarding – project completion/recognition.  Simply put, rules and policies exist in every aspect of life – school is no different than work.  There are consequences for poor decision making or poor performance; just as there are awards, rewards and recognition for positive performance!

Additional Information you would like to include?  The Masco BCG is committed to preserving our environment, conserving our natural resources and providing a safe place for our employees and community neighbors. The Masco Builder Cabinet Group takes a holistic view of environmental stewardship and "green."

We advocate and practice:
o Responsible harvesting of natural resources  (good forestry practices)
o Maximum use of natural resources (yield, waste reduction, and carbon footprint management)
o Products designed for maximum performance (Life Cycle Analysis)
o Environmental management systems (ISO14001 EMS certified)
o Conservation programs (Lean, energy reduction programs, pollution prevention, recycled/reuse programs)
o Emission control and reductions (reformulations, engineering, add-on process controls)
o Healthy factory processes for factory employees and communities
o Healthy products for the consumers.