L to R: Jessica Koster, Cargill; Jay Reardon, Hickory Chair; Dave Simpson, Cargill; Yusuf Wazirzada, Cargill.

The Secret Behind Sage Award Winner Hickory Chair's Success? It Starts With Employees

Selected as the first recipient of the Sage Award by the American Home Furnishings Alliance (AHFA) and sponsored by Cargill’s BiOH®polyols business unit, Hickory Chair has been distinguished as a leader among its peers.

The organization was chosen for this elite award based on its leadership in reducing its environmental footprint while expanding its positive social impact and running a profitable business. Judges in the competition noted Hickory Chair’s successful efforts to involve employees at every level in environmental stewardship and social responsibility. In fact, employees implemented approximately 1,100 improvements. In accepting the award, Jay Reardon, president of Hickory Chair, acknowledged his 570 employees and said the only “unlimited resource” within his company is the brainpower of its workers. “A sense of ownership in our success and a sense of playing an important role on our team is what motivate our employees,” he explains.

A Culture of Respect

The company’s EDGE (Employees Dedicated to Growth and Excellence) continual improvement program results in hundreds of actionable ideas for environmental and operational enhancements each year. “Our EDGE culture is based on respect. We try and reduce or eliminate waste that our customers, internal and external, do not want to pay for or accept as part of our processes. Once we made our people aware of the impact our waste had on our environment, they turned the awareness into action and work continuously to reduce, recycle and repurpose it,” says Reardon.

With a focus on continual improvement and reevaluation, the company strives to prevent scrap from being generated. The result is a sustainable product made by caring individuals, focused on customer service.

As for winning the award, the entire Hickory Chair organization can take pride in its accomplishment, says Reardon. "I would like to thank Cargill for  its commitment to raising awareness on the benefits of sustainable practices and teaming up with AHFA to bring focus to our industry on the role we can play in having a more positive impact on our environment and communities. We are honored to have been selected from such a worthy group of candidates."

Strategies for Sustainable Success

In 2008, the improvements Hickory Chair employees implemented dealt with better machine utilization, reduced energy consumption, process improvements that eliminated rework or wasted materials, elimination of non-value-added operations and improved productivity.

Specifically, the manufacturer reduced its landfill waste by 178 tons in 2007, and targeted another 125-ton reduction in 2008. Utilizing a wood grinder, the company has improved the use of wood scrap as boiler fuel—resulting in a $450,000 savings in fuel oil expenses. Recycling programs throughout the organization now reuse, repurpose, recycle or reclaim the following waste streams: cardboard, fabric, leather, plastic, string, aluminum cans, plastic drink bottles, paper, metal, wood, cotton, ink toner, electronic equipment, fluorescent lamps, batteries, pallets, packaging materials, tooling, foam and equipment containing mercury.

By implementing these and many more effective environmental programs, Hickory Chair grew its business and its profitability.

Hear Jay Reardon, president of Hickory Chair, talk about the Sage Award