As one of our five principles, this is very strongly worded – for good reason. In any company, but especially in a small company, having the right chemistry is critical for success. The analogy I like to use is that, if our team is headed toward the west coast, some may find their way to San Diego, while others may be in Sacramento – there are multiple, acceptable routes to the west coast. But the team member that ends up in Mexico City is a big problem! And they probably dragged someone else along with them.
This is not to say that everyone should agree with each other all of the time. Strong opinions are always welcome in my company. It’s not disagreement that is the issue. It is a person who puts themselves on an island, and doesn’t want input from the rest of the team. We have had more than one very talented person that violated this principle to the point they had to be let go. Not for their lack of effort or lack of skills, but because they were not team players.
On the flip side, when there is good chemistry in an organization, then synergy occurs – one plus one equals three, not two. It is a joy to be a part of.
About Rob Coats, CEO
Rob brings more than thirty-five years of manufacturing experience to SMC. He spent the first part of his career in manufacturing management with Procter & Gamble before coming to Lexington to manage the operations of a small manufacturer. His first position with ownership was a wire harness company near Lexington. After that business sold, Rob purchased SMC as the majority owner in 1994. Sales grew by 7X over the next thirteen years due to a stellar group of key employees. Rob holds a B.S. in Engineering and a MBA from Virginia Tech.
ABOUT SMC
SMC is a print circuit board assembly manufacturer, custom cable assembly provider, system integration/box build manufacturer that is located in the heart of Kentucky. Our two locations provide quick and easy access for the technology industry in the eastern region.
We specialize and are certified to manufacture products in the medical, security, military/DOD, industrial controls, construction, and transportation industries. To maximize customer support, we have created five separate engineering departments: process, test, customer, system integration, and quality engineering. These departments offer world class engineering support and product development. SMC has the EMS solutions you need to ensure quality electronic products at a competitive cost.
