|
Leading flooring
manufacturer
implements
global learning
& employee
development
program
Client Overview
For nearly four
decades The
Amtico Company
has designed,
engineered and
manufactured the
most innovative
resilient
flooring
products in the
world. In 1964,
Amtico was set
up in Coventry,
England, as a
joint venture
between
Courtaulds and
American
Biltrite. By
1969 Courtaulds
had acquired the
whole business
in the UK and
license to use
the Amtico brand
name in every
country outside
North America.
Throughout the
1980’s the
company boomed
and the process
of re-branding
and expanding
began in
earnest. In
1989, the first
Amtico Studio
was opened in
Epsom, Surrey.
It was a
showcase for the
company’s
products and
encouraged home
owners and
specifiers to
create their own
flooring
designs. Over
the next four
years, the
Company
established a
global network
of Studios and
set up its own
companies in
Germany and
Australia. When
they acquired
the rights in
1993 to use the
Amtico name in
America, Studios
were opened in
the USA and
Amtico
International
Inc was formed.
In 1995, the
Company had a
Management
Buy-Out from
Courtaulds plc
and went on to
see greater
success. Since
then, the
Company has set
up its own
businesses in
France (1999)
and, more
recently, in
Sweden (2001).
Situational
Overview
Amtico
International’s
recent growth
and expansion
into new markets
highlighted the
need for a way
to consistently
deploy the
corporate
mission and
values of the
company to all
employees.
Amtico
International
had decided that
the best way to
deploy a
consistent
message for all
employees was by
developing and
implementing a
global corporate
university. The
Chapman Group’s
relationship
began with
Amtico
International
based on this
long-term
initiative of
the company to
deploy the
corporate
strategy of the
company from the
executive level
to all employees
through a
Corporate
University.
Efforts
The University
concept was
first conceived
within the
senior
management team
of Amtico
International.
With the goal of
launching the
University
within the
global business
in a timely
manner, an
executive level
appointment of
The Chapman
Group was made.
The Chapman
Group was
engaged in order
to aid in
designing &
implementing the
University from
both a strategic
and operational
perspective.
From a strategic
perspective, the
first goal of
the University
implementation
team was to
define the new
corporate
mission and
values in order
to clearly lay
the framework
that the
University would
operate in.
Clarification of
the corporate
mission and
values provide a
clear vision and
direction for
the pending
development of
The University
of Amtico. At
this point the
overall
strategic
direction of the
University was
designed.
The next step in
the
implementation
process involved
building a
global
infrastructure
that would
support the new
direction of the
company. A
University
leadership team
was created,
with equal focus
within Europe
and The United
States in order
to keep the
University
balanced
globally.
Upon completing
the design of
the
infrastructure
for the
University, the
technical
requirements for
the University
were created,
and The Chapman
Group team aided
in the selection
and
implementation
of a data
tracking system
also known as a
Learning
Management
System or LMS.
Developing the
people within
Amtico was key
Amtico’s
continued
success and
market
leadership,
hence,
operationally
some of the
first programs
that The
University of
Amtico focused
on were in the
areas of
leadership,
customer
service, and
reinforcing the
corporate
mission and
values.
During the first
year of The
University of
Amtico, every
employee
worldwide
completed 16
hours of
University
courses. In
addition,
selected people
were trained to
facilitate
programs, the
leadership team
attended over 40
hours of
learning as well
as facilitating
one team
workshop, and
local skills
based training
continued to be
delivered. All
of these
programs were
delivered at a
cost of less
than $500 'USD'
per employee.
Bottom line
results point
toward reduced
levels of scrap,
improved levels
of employee
moral, increased
productivity
both in
manufacturing
and sales along
with a reduction
of operating
expenses.
Results
A
corporate
university must
be aligned to an
organization’s
corporate
strategies and
business
objectives as
well as
addressing their
challenges and
needs in order
to be fully
successful. In
this instance,
the university
supported and
facilitated
Amtico
International’s
successful
deployment of
their corporate
strategy and
goals through
the
implementation
of specific
courses and
exercises.
This initiative
has enabled
Amtico
International to
continue to
retain their
worldwide
position as a
premier provider
of luxury floor
covering.
Bottom line
results point
toward reduced
levels of scrap,
improved levels
of employee
moral, increased
productivity
both in
manufacturing
and sales along
with a reduction
of operating
expenses.
Points of
Contact Within
Amtico
International
Global
Operations Board
CEO
Director of
Human Resources |
