Q&A With Universal Forest Products Employees

If you are an "A,B" player, why should you worry? If you want paychecks and that's it, be worried.

I was good until a new GM with zero knowledge of a Treating Facility came in. I literally watched him argue with the VP of Wood Preservation in front of me over inventory transfers from the treating system to the "inventory system". The GM's source, an admin from his former facility that was truss plant/site built. Pretty bad when a supervisor leaves and the VP of Manufacturing gives you his personal cell number to ask why your leaving to be a Plant Manager with another somewhat competitor company.

I quit do to anninability to do the job

Work hard, Learn, Learn, Learn, Lead, Lead, Work hard. Product knowledge, being apart of internal committees. If you truly put yourself into your work, you will get noticed. I am not the type to kiss up to advance, my work spoke for it's self when I left the company.

That was above my pay grade

Hard worker, Understands Plant, Region, Division, Company goals and does everything in their position to help attain said goals. If you want to get hired, read the company's profile and understand it. Your success depends on you, not others.

Loaded question. Wholesale S&R, we were all relatively new, Site Built were 2+ years. Language barriers, different skill levels, but if you asked for help, you got help. But rarely for the same thing twice, that is on you!

KPI's (key performance indicators), If your department does not have any, ask why!

Be open and learn, adapt, learn, ask, learn, discuss, learn, learn learn, learn. If you do not have a closeminded GM you will be your own success.

Very professional when it was done. Was there for their first ever layoffs. It was sad when it happened, but understood the greater goal.

If you want it, go out and get it! You will not be handed anything, as in life.

Pretty fair if you stay in the game long enough.

Didn't have one, this was before their 5's push. But if I would have been asked as I have since working there, What are your biggest opportunities any why.

45-day training done by the immediate supervisor in connection with the Safety director. ASK QUESTIONS IF YOU DO NOT UNDERSTAND!!!!!!!!

Same as everyone else at the time.

Couldn't Answer, didn't have the need.

Knowing what I was doing at the time not only affected my and my family, but everyone I know and their families, friends, and so on. One mis-step on my part could result in potential catastrophic failure to someone I know. Always brought my "A Game".

Where I was at Soccer. Played when I was little but cheered my fellow employees on when interplant challenges occurred.

Family work hard, play harder. Friends I still talk to this day after being away for a few years that were there since my day one.

Listen, learn, adapt, adapt, adapt. Even though it was not with UFPI, what I learned on the job took me to where I am. Needs vary from day to day (output, input, loads, charges, etc....).

That my plant was a turnstile for GM/GMO's. Every couple years, another change in direction and philosophy.

Not hard. Don't abuse luxuries (Phone, computer, etc...) if provided. Learn, do, ask, discuss, learn, lead, lead, lead.

For me it was quick, Coming from HD I had a good relationship with the then sales manager. All he said was " you need to take a look at this guy". The rest was on me.

No kidding, 15 minutes from Paper application to setting up my one an only interview.

Nothing loose in industrial areas (saws, conveyors, etc...). Where I was at no uniforms were provided other than the Treating Department. Otherwise it was the employees expense.

This is the main factor with leaving UFP (Not UFPI at the time). We were so behind due to lack of planning of the GM, when my wife miscarried on treating, the GM never batted an eye about it or even asked if my wife or I was alright. Once I turned in my 2 weeks to the Plant manager, was the first time I had seen a friend cry thinking he failed his employee. He didn't as I told him, the GM failed me.

Typically once a year or position change. Once a position change, kiss any raise that could have been goodbye because you just got promoted.

Honestly, All "A" players. You will survive as a "B", will last a few paychecks as a "C". Just do what you do to the best you can, if you are new question, learn, question, learn, discuss, learn, discuss, learn, teach, learn , teach, learn. The cycle progresses as long as you want it to.