Columbia Tech focuses on exceeding customer expectations.
By Alan Dorich, Senior Editor at Knighthouse Media
Some firms are weighed down by a complex structure, but Columbia Tech thrives by keeping things simple. “The organization is kept relatively lean and without a lot of steps,” Senior Vice President of Supply Chain Scott Johnson says.
This has given Johnson the freedom to respond quickly to market changes in the supply chain. “The whole company is really built around flexibility and being able to move faster and more efficiently than the next guy,” he says.
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Harley-Davidson prepares for the next generation of motorcycle riders.
By Kat Zeman, Senior Editor at Knighthouse Media
One of the world’s most well-known motorcycle manufacturers, Harley-Davidson has launched an aggressive 10-year campaign to attract more riders to the sport and create brand awareness.
Celebrating its 115th anniversary this year, the Milwaukee-based motorcycle maker will focus on building the next generation of Harley-Davidson motorcycle riders and increasing its international sales through the launch of innovative new products. This includes 100 new high-impact motorcycles and highly targeted and engaging marketing campaigns.
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American Woodmark is known for keeping its promises to clients.
By Alan Dorich, Senior Editor at Knighthouse Media
For American Woodmark Corp., it takes more than wood to build quality cabinets. It also takes a culture that is focused on customer experience. “Our people take a lot of pride in what they do,” Chairman and CEO Cary Dunston declares. “It makes all the difference in the world.”
Based in Winchester, Va., American Woodmark sells more than 500 cabinet styles to the remodeling and new home construction markets under its American Woodmark, Shenandoah Cabinetry, Timberlake Cabinetry, Waypoint Living Spaces, Professional Cabinet Solutions, Villa Bath and a number of house brand names. Dunston explains that a dentist started the firm in the 1950s, providing furniture for dentists’ offices.
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Sierra Nevada Corp.’s supply chain must remain innovative and responsive to keep pace with the company’s advanced developments.
By Staci Davidson, Managing Editor at Knighthouse Media
Sierra Nevada Corp. (SNC), Dreams, Innovates and Inspires and one would be hard pressed to find a corporate statement that is truer. As a global leader in advanced engineering technologies, SNC serves the space systems, commercial solutions, and national security and defense markets. Innovation is key in all the company does, and that includes its supply chain. Without a strong and innovative supply chain, SNC could not soar as high as it does.
“Many supply chains are designed with a strict set of controls and processes to drive efficiency and control,” Vice President of Procurement Ed Mills explains. “Our supply chain has to maintain controls, but we don’t stop there. We are encouraged to look beyond the control aspect at emerging trends in the market regarding how we adapt to market changes. For example, is there a different model or update that we should be thinking about? We are not constrained to do it only one way and keep it that way – we keep our supply chain evergreen.”
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Nebraska Book Company uses its more than 100 years of experience to evolve in the competitive higher education used textbook market.
By Staci Davidson, Managing Editor at Knighthouse Media
The book industry is not new, and when it comes to Nebraska Book Company (NBC) – a leader in sourcing and distributing used books – it rarely deals with new materials. But with a history that dates back to 1915, NBC knows how to evolve and keep things fresh. This is how NBC maintains its market leadership position and continues to be a high-quality supplier and customer.
“For most companies, customer experience is important,” notes Peter Grenier, senior vice president of operations and strategy. “With us, our customers are also our suppliers – so customer experience has to be top of mind in every transaction.”
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RNDC is underway with several projects to keep its business agile.
By Alan Dorich, Senior Editor at Knighthouse Media
Republic National Distributing Co. (RNDC) has a legacy that goes back to before Prohibition, but the company cannot be accused of resting on its laurels. Instead, the beverage alcohol distributor makes sure it stays current in the age of e-commerce and new routes to market.
“Everybody is looking for faster and more efficient ways to do things,” Vice President of Operations Steve Feldman says. “As the economy and markets change, we’ve got to continue to be more productive and optimize our facilities and equipment, and leverage new and innovative technology.”
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Credit Chris Vallieres
Ainsworth Pet Nutrition’s logistics operations stay on top of industry trends and challenges.
By Jim Harris, Senior Editor at Knighthouse Media
During his tenure as vice president of logistics for Ainsworth Pet Nutrition, Ryan Hunter has stressed to his team the importance of being proactive. “We are a high-growth company in an industry that is changing rapidly, and that is very exciting,” he says. “We are trying to shift from reacting to growth to driving change within our logistics operations.”
The pet food manufacturer identified three strategic logistics initiatives that will allow it to drive change within the organization. The first of these is to expand and optimize its footprint by ensuring it has the right number of distribution centers in the right locations.
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