Key executives at The Raymond Corp. discuss the challenges of competing in the global material handling market.

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The Raymond Corp. has had an admirable record of both quality manufacturing and community involvement. Both have been helpful as the company has addressed the challenges of competing in the global material handling market and in growing its business coming out of the recession. Key executives at Raymond discussed some of those challenges.

Tim Combs, vice president of sales: We recently had a visit from a leading U.S. designer and manufacturer of laundry equipment and textile machinery. During this time, Raymond discussed various keys to its own success that the customer later was able to apply to its own manufacturing processes and procedures. These keys included: planning, communication, process standardization, training/coaching, solving problems one-by-one, and metrics.

Raymond often shares many secrets to business success with its customers. During these visits, it is our hope that our customers can learn from our manufacturing and organizational processes, and adapt them where it makes sense to do so.

Joe LaFergola, manger, business and information solutions: The lift truck industry generally is the first to feel the downturn in the economy as businesses are not producing as many goods because business is slowing down. On the other end of a recession, the material handling industry is generally leading industries out of a poor economy because businesses are starting to ramp up to fill the needs of their customers. In addition, advances in technology have given manufacturers the ability to produce more products more efficiently. We can manufacture more units out of the same space.

Steve VanNostrand, vice president of human resources: From an education perspective, we have partnerships at the junior high, high school, community college, and university levels that help support our future talent. We leverage to further build a highly skilled workforce.

We have been fortunate to be able to give back to the community on a yearly basis to more than 80 nonprofits that are all working to make our communities a better place to live. We are also very proud of the number of employees who give their time and talents to support a large number of causes in the community. For example, more than 40 of our employees volunteer at the local Greene fire department. We actively support this type of leadership that benefits all of us.