Flooring companies were well represented in Training magazine’s annual list of top training organizations, with Mohawk Industries ranked 14th, Shaw Industries 54th and Tandus Centiva 66th.
The Top 125 ranking is determined by assessing a range of qualitative and quantitative factors, including financial investment in employee development, the scope of development programs and how closely such development efforts are linked to business goals and objectives. Mohawk was the highest-ranked manufacturing organization. Its standing was based on a multitude of corporate initiatives including Mohawk University, which provides retailers with world-class training, education and business management resources.
“The value of continued education, product knowledge sessions and installation excellence cannot be overstated,” said Mike Zoellner, vice president of marketing services for Mohawk. “Continual learning is the key to success in a highly competitive economy and Training magazine’s Top 125 ranking gives retailers total assurance that partnering with Mohawk provides them with industry-leading training.”
Training magazine noted Mohawk’s manufacturing facilities require employees to maintain up-to-date certifications as a component of productivity, quality and safety goals. “While Mohawk values external certification programs, the company also develops internal certifications,” the magazine stated. “For instance, the Analytical Methods of Training program certifies each employee as a ‘master’ of his or her job, requiring demonstrations of proficiency for each component task that constitutes the job.”
Shaw Industries’ inclusion on the Training list marks the 11th consecutive year in which the Dalton-based manufacturer was named. “Shaw’s associates are at the heart of the company’s success and our ability to create great products and provide superb service,” said Danny Crutchfield, Shaw’s director of corporate training and organizational development. “We’re honored that Shaw and the Shaw Learning Academy have been recognized again for our ongoing efforts to advance and invest in our associates’ personal and professional development and the success of our customers.”
The magazine wrote, “With more than $1 billion invested in new equipment, new technology and new processes over the last few years, almost every job at Shaw—from designers and data scientists to machinists and managers—requires a higher skill level than before. As a result, Shaw has helped develop an array of education programs to ensure the company has the highly skilled workforce necessary to meet current and future business demands.”
Tandus Centiva, a Tarkett company, was cited by the magazine for a strategic account-selling course that “reaped outstanding sales results by creating a shift in the way the sales team thinks about the selling process. This three-day program, customized to fit Tandus Centiva’s business and selling model, allows salespeople to evaluate a business opportunity and choose an appropriate strategy.”
All three companies also made Training’s list in 2014.