DEARBORN, Mich. (April 18) — The keys to future success for a company really aren´t that complex, according to the president and CEO of Lauren International Inc.
Kevin Gray said during his April 17 keynote address at the International Silicone and Molding conferences in Dearborn that there is a need for such things as increasing speed to market, investing in research and development, and spoiling customers.
He also said it´s vital to put the right "players on your team" and make sure they´re in the right positions.
"If you can have the best possible talent, then there´s a high probability you´ll be successful," said Gray, the Rubber & Plastics News 2006 Rubber Industry Executive of the Year.
The last bit of advice from the Lauren CEO was to create a culture that can accept change. The days of the five-year business plan are long gone, he said, with Lauren working on a rolling 12-month plan that is reviewed monthly.
And while change must be embraced from the top, officials must not forget that it´s often the lower-level staff who best understand the processes and can give the best suggestions, Gray said.