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Success Without Tradeoffs
Achieving Dramatic Improvements for All The Business’ Stakeholders
In 1989, Kingsford Charcoal (a subsidiary of the Clorox Company) was operating 13 plants and using 2 contractor plants, yet was barely able to meet their production requirements. Following a developmental educational process over a period of three years, they produced the same tonnage with just 5 plants. The safety record of Kingsford had also been the worst in the Clorox Company. Within the same three years, they set the safety program standard for Clorox and were well below the industry average injury rate. Quality improved 10-fold simultaneously.
By creating a business growth strategic planning process, Kingsford was able to introduce an on-going stream of new and competitively unique products at one-third the former introduction time and twice the rate of success they had experienced before. Kingsford subsequently increased its profits by 250%, became Clorox’s second most profitable subsidiary, and positioned their products at #1 or #2 in the industry in every category.
Kingsford won state awards for good citizenship and national awards for product design. They reduced the water and heat resources in the manufacturing process by almost 40% and the volatiles in the cooking process by almost 75% improving air quality in Southern…
