when competitors became a team when competitors became a team

Recommendations

Info

CANADA Plant managers Jean Goyette and Cynthia Martin are a closely knit team. They take their work seriously, but laughter is never far away. From competitors to a close-knit team Two plants within a two hour drive of each other. Magog and Valleyfield manufacture the same product and collaborate now more than ever. “We used to compete over being the best Eka Chemicals plant in Canada. Then we realized it would be better to help each other,” says Jean Goyette, head of the Valleyfield plant. ■ We are now traveling by car between the two Eka Chemicals chlorate factories in the Canadian province of Quebec. Cynthia Martin has driven this road many times. It was when she became factory manager at Magog four years ago that collaboration between the two factories reached new levels that improved the global efficiency of both plants; this being partly due to a restructuring program that required rationalization. Although collaboration would probably not have been so comprehensive if Cynthia Martin and her opposite number at Valleyfield, Jean Goyette, had not chosen to work as a team. ONCE WE REACH VALLEYFIELD Jean Goyette confirms this theory: “Valleyfield once belonged to Alby Klorat and was bought by the company now known as Akzo Nobel in 1991. Despite the ownership change, we 10 ekaecho | # 4 2007 continued to regard ourselves as competitors. When I became manager here in 2000, relations between the two factories had already improved from a purely competitive situation to a much cordial relationship. “ “The situation has much improved since you and I began to work together. We’re a good team,” says Cynthia. “Yes. We see things the same way and have compatible ideas. We can bridge our differences, although really the difference between our factories is more about culture than production,” says Jean Goyette. He offers us coffee in his office. The distance between the two factories is far enough to prevent the two executives from meeting every day, but a working day seldom passes without a check or two being made with each other by phone. “We talk about day-to-day operations and how “Because we cooperate we often share begin to say something and then the ot we should deal with various situations. Both plant manufacture chlorate, so we both face the same kind of problems,” says Cynthia. THE TWO PLANTS HAVE STARTED to work with an increasing number of joint functions in recent years; human resources, finance and quality being the most important. Joint projects are also on the agenda; a present example being factory laboratories working together over solving problems with boron impurities present in the salt used for production. “Nowadays, when a new problem arises, we usually assign one person to deal with it on behalf of both plants,” says Jean Goyette. Recent years have been eventful, for both Magog and Valleyfield. They have gone through several restructuring programs and been obliged to cut back on employees. At the same time, pro-
the same point of view. At meetings one of us might her elaborates,” says Jean Goyette. duction volumes have increased owing to reorganization and rationalization. “The principle tasks that Jean and I have are to reduce costs and produce the best chlorate for the lowest cost,” says Cynthia, and Jean adds: “Our challenge is to constantly improve both efficiency and technology in the plant, and all other areas. Magog, by the way, is often used as a best practice reference plant for Eka chlorate factories globally” says Jean Goyette. “Although at Valleyfield you’re every bit as good as us,” points out Cynthia. It becomes very clear that both plant managers have completely abandoned all thoughts of competition and prestige. They each run their own plant, but see only advantages in helping and supporting each other. And there is no lack of future challenge. “Many employees have been working for Eka “…and you can’t expect employees to cooperate if their managers don’t,” elaborates Cynthia Martin. Chemicals for a very long time. We are facing a big challenge in trying to avoid losing too much professional skill now that many are due to retire simultaneously in a few years time,” says Cynthia. CYNTHIA IS ONLY 34 and joined Eka Chemicals in 1998 as a process engineer. She has just finished a few months of parental leave, having handed over the reigns to Pierre Marchand as stand-in plant manager for this period. Jean Goyette also lent a helping hand with some of Cynthia’s workload. “It feels good to get back to work again,” comments Cynthia, and goes on: “I like it at Eka Chemicals, I approve of the company philosophy of making efforts to recruit and promote internally. Eka too, is a company with excellent values concerning health, safety and responsibility. The global attitude towards the chemicals industry is not always fair, but it feels better THE VALLEYFIELD PLANT > Situated in the town of Valleyfield, which has approx. 10,000 inhabitants, 70 km south-west of Montreal (and just 20 km from the US border). > Manufactures: Sodium chlorate, but also sells the by-product, hydrogen. > Number of employees: 49 > In operation: 24 hours a day, seven days a week > History: Built in 1985 by competitor Alby Klorat. Sold to Eka Chemicals in 1991. to work for a chemicals company that harbors worthwhile values. For example, we have a citizens committee in both Magog and Valleyfield and good relations with both towns.” We are now in the province of Quebec and French is the mother tongue of most employees. The plants cooperate over the translation of documents. We ask if all meetings are held in French, and the question is received with amusement. “Of course,” says Jean Goyette, and Cynthia Martin adds: “All communications at the factories are in French. As far as I know we only have one employee at Magog who has English as a mother tongue. Many employees here don’t speak any English at all.” Text & photo: Monica Rossing More about this on the next page ➥ ekaecho | # 4 2007 11
Page 1 and 2: ekaecho T H E E K A C H E M I C A L
Page 3 and 4: 100 largest surveyed ■ The PPI ma
Page 5 and 6: Chlorine dioxide to Skutskär - mor
Page 7 and 8: Meet a master of degrees How to att
Page 9: Dollar affects profits Since 2002,
Page 13 and 14: er that leads into the lake. The ri
Page 16 and 17: We’ve added Highlights! A new pag
Page 18 and 19: PICK & MIX New Names moves to the n
Page 20: Eka Chemicals 445 80 Bohus AT WORK

when competitors became a team when competitors became a team

You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles

Delete template?

Save as template?