Best Places to Work: Building positive work environment key for Spec Rubber

ALABASTER, Ala.—Things like effective communication, employee appreciation and benefits make a company a great place to work.

But what makes Specification Rubber Products Inc., or Spec Rubber, a Best Place to Work is—yes, all of those—but also its teamwork and its employees' willingness to come together and uplift each other.

Be it to meet the company's goals, give back to the community or celebrate milestones by tailgating at an Alabama Crimson Tide football game, "our team comes together and creates a culture that is very positive, caring and uplifting," Spec Rubber President Steven Smith said.

Smith said the team was "ecstatic" to be named among one of Rubber News' Best Places to Work for a third year in a row, after taking the top honors last year, and it's thanks to the work its employees put in every day.

Spec Rubber, now celebrating 55 years in business, was founded in 1968 by E.W. "Bud" Quiggle as a manufacturer of rubber components for the waterworks industry.

Today, Specification Rubber employs 69 at its 85,000-sq.-ft. facility in Alabaster and is a manufacturer of ductile iron pipe, valve and hydrant producers, as well as specialty mechanical molded rubber goods for industrial manufacturing applications.

What Spec Rubber does is hot, demanding work, Smith said. So it's important for the company to take care of its most valuable assets, "which is our teammates."

It's easy to take your team for granted in the "throngs of things, when life is moving fast," but Smith said Spec Rubber makes sure its team is supported to reinforce a healthy work environment, which is necessary to tackle the challenges of the rubber manufacturing industry.

"What I think is more important for us is developing an environment and culture where the team has the ability to succeed as well as to have a voice," he said. "(We) try to make sure that they are heard and seen and that we recognize their performance and their accomplishments."

And, of course, effective communication, regular employee appreciation and benefits are part of this.

"What we have found is by investing in one another, investing in our people and really getting to know them, what makes them click, what's important to them—I think that's proved to be really a positive difference for us."

Smith says not only effective, but intentional communication is critical to the success of the company, for both long-term and short-term objectives.

Without this, "you oftentimes fail to hit that plan or objective, and you oftentimes sit back and wonder where that went wrong," he said.

Digital communication boards are placed throughout the entire facility to showcase various messages, from visitor information and company goals to photos of teammates and their anniversaries or accomplishment. The company also has daily team huddles amongst supervisors to review the priorities of the day.

And the benefits package for its employees is "second to none," according to the company, which offers a profit-sharing program, an annual non-elective contribution to its employees' 401(k) accounts, and health and life insurance benefits to all full-time team members.

More importantly, though, Smith said being part of the Spec Rubber team means looking out for and respecting each other.

"One of our biggest values is safety," Smith said. "… (We) genuinely believe that getting our teammates home in as good—if not better—shape than they've reported to work (in) is critical to us, but moreover, critical to their family."

Another key value Spec Rubber holds is treating others the way you want to be treated.

"It's not complicated," Smith said. "Intentionally get to know our teammates, what their hopes and dreams are, challenges they're facing, as we all face challenges."

Because at Spec Rubber, you're not just a press operator or an order entry clerk. You're part of a team.

"We're a rubber molder and processor, that's what we do. But we're much bigger than that."

One of life's most rewarding accomplishments is putting your team at the forefront, Smith said, because when you support your team, your team supports your company.

And a company expansion in the works is proof of this, Smith said, noting the company is in the final stages of designing a new, 30,000-sq.-ft. facility near its main campus, which "will be the largest expansion in our 55-year history."

More news on this, he said, will be available later.

"At the end of the day, it's important to hit our safety numbers and our production numbers, but in a bigger scheme of things, it's much more important to invest in others, giving them an opportunity to help accomplish some of their dreams and expectations," Smith said.

"If you take care of your team, typically, your team takes care of you as a company."