Solutions Current Issues > April/May/June 2008 > The Right Things Right
Email LinkFOCUSING ON THE CORE
We’re committed to building and maintaining a strong foundation.
by Rick Hudson
At the Health Zone — the fitness center where you’ll find me every morning — “focusing on the core” means strengthening those muscles that support the body’s trunk, stabilizing the spine, and transferring energy from large to small muscle groups.
WHERE THE BUCK STOPS: Rick Hudson is
founder
and CEO of RL Hudson.
Doing so, say the experts, results in better balance, greater agility,more efficient and powerful movement, and less likelihood of injury.
It’s no different in business. In fact, one look at recent headlines, and the impact a weak or injured supplier can have on its customers, makes the need for this kind of focus painfully clear. Conversely, with clear focus and commitment, a strong supplier offers its customers a foundation from which both can respond to changing marketplace conditions with speed and agility and, in turn, better compete.
I believe RL Hudson & Company is an example of such a supplier. Our company began as an O-ring distributor. Today, RL Hudson is a full-service global supplier of molded rubber and plastic solutions, and our customers include many of the largest,most well-known manufacturing companies in the world.
So, what have we done to get to this level? We’ve focused on the core.
First, we stay close to our customers and listen to their needs and expectations. This has resulted in our transition from simple distribution to full-service sourcing and supply. Today,many of our customers view RL Hudson almost as an extension of their own company.
Next, we continue to invest in the expertise, equipment, processes and facilities we need to deliver superior service, quality products and innovative technology. Our customers rely on us to provide expertise in the highly complex field of rubber and plastics.That’s why we employ chemists, design engineers, rapid tooling specialists and quality experts.Our customers also expect services such as supply chain management and assembly. With the right tools and expertise in all of these areas, we meet — and often exceed — their expectations, and also dramatically reduce any potential for error. And when mistakes do happen, our customers know we’re equally committed to making it right.
And finally, we never stand still. At RL Hudson,we are constantly evaluating the marketplace, our customer’s needs, and ways in which we can deliver even greater value.
One such example is evident in this issue’s cover story, “Putting It All Together.” Because RL Hudson had already established a strong supply chain management system, and was sourcing a number of parts for one of its customers, when that customer asked us to assume responsibility for assembly, it was an easy decision. Now, as more and more manufacturers are outsourcing component assembly, RL Hudson is well-positioned to assume that responsibility. And assembly is a value-added service that has become part of our core strength.
For RL Hudson, focusing on the core is ultimately about strength. It’s about being there for our customers today, tomorrow and into the future. And for us, doing so means continuous improvement, ongoing training and development, and continual investment in our company and our customers. It’s just part of doing the right things right.
