J.B. Rodgers Mechanical Contractors
| COMPANY AT A GLANCE In 1948, J.B. Rodgers Mechanical
Contractors, Inc., opened its doors in Phoenix with three employees. The company began
operations specializing in evaporative cooling and sheet metal work. Over the years, the
company grew both in size and service while continuing to meet customers' needs. Today,
J.B. Rodgers is a privately-owned corporation with annual sales in excess of $80 million.
J.B. Rodgers, headquartered in Phoenix, is the largest mechanical contracting firm in
Arizona and one of the top 30 in the country. Our more than 700 employees provide
commercial and industrial mechanical contracting services to a wide array of customers,
primarily throughout the Southwest. Services provided include process piping, heating,
ventilation, air conditioning (HVAC), high purity process piping, plumbing, performance
contracting, fabrication and technical services. |
Focus: Quality
For nearly 50 years, J.B. Rodgers has enjoyed a reputation for quality workmanship and
highly skilled trades people, which make up 80 percent of the company's work force. The
Arizona contractor was eager to expand its commitment to quality with the implementation
of total quality management (TQM) in 1990.
As the quality effort got underway, company leaders decided it was important to
separate the little "q" -- technical workmanship -- from the big "Q"
-- how the contractor managed its processes and systems; the contractor chose to focus on
the big "Q" first. As a result, J.B. Rodgers closely evaluated how it managed
more than 200 processes, procedures and systems. The company's first step was to
communicate and clearly define to employees, their role in the company's mission, vision,
values, quality policy and strategic plan.
Focus: Customers
Customer intimacy has been crucial to J.B. Rodgers for many years. As part of the
continuous improvement cycle, the company implemented a formal customer surveying process
in 1992. This process provides a clear identification of customers' needs, concerns,
quality and safety issues, future service needs and overall satisfaction.
Focus: Employees
One of J.B. Rodgers' strengths is its strong commitment to involving employees in planning
and operations. To date, the company has developed more than 23 teams to review processes,
procedures and measurements, employee suggestions and incentives. Employees are surveyed
annually with results and action plans shared throughout the survey process.
J.B. Rodgers also has made a huge commitment to training its employees -- 40 hours per
employee annually. The company's leadership encourages open communication, two-way
dialogue and a team approach to problem-solving.
Focus: Vendors
J.B. Rodgers also created a quality program for its key vendors, called the Vendor
Alliance Program. Initiated in 1995, the company developed what it believes to be the
first contractor-driven program of its kind in Arizona. The goal of the program is to
strengthen vendor relationships and to better ensure quality.
Focus: Measurement
For J.B. Rodgers, the measurement of results is the hallmark of quality. Therefore, the
contractor's advisory team identified five critical success factors and determined how to
measure each to ensure that TQM had the desired effect. Those factors and measurements
include safety, customer satisfaction, employee understanding, financial matters and
quality. Targets are set for these measures and an incentive program for employees is tied
to meeting the targets.
| For more information, contact Lisa McFate, Communications Manager, J.B. Rodgers
Mechanical Contractors, Inc., 2825 W. Thomas Rd., Phoenix, AZ 85017, (602)269-2161. |
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