What’s Your Mission (Statement)?

This quote from Don G. Gardner is prominently displayed in the foyer of Gardner Business Media’s Cincinnati, Ohio headquarters.

Some years ago, I was given a book by the president of an oil field shop I visited to create this article about adding turn/mill machines for Production Machining’s sister brand, Modern Machine Shop.

The book is “Progressive Manufacturing: Managing Uncertainty While Blazing a Trail to Success,” written by Soli Engineer. It’s a good read about how people, products (or services) and processes form the foundation for effective management of manufacturing companies. I especially appreciate Engineer’s healthy attention to the people portion of that three-legged chair.

Part of the book touches on company mission statements. While opinions differ about the value of these statements, I think summarizing fundamental company beliefs and aspirations in a couple clear sentences is essential to providing employees with the basic guidance needed to make decisions that parallel a company’s credo.

“Basic” is the key word here. A mission statement that’s too elaborate, detailed or wordy is unhelpful. If it can’t be committed to memory, it’s too long or possibly too complicated.

I found some machine shop mission statements with a bit of Googling. Consider this opening line to one shop’s statement:

“[Our] mission is to provide machining, engineering and quality technologies that synergistically provide customers’ outcomes in excess of normal expectations.”

I get the gist, but it certainly isn’t succinct.

Others, like this one, are written as if the customer is the audience:

“Our mission…is to provide you with the highest level of quality from highly skilled people using the latest technology available.”

This is more of a customer promise than a vehicle that will help lead employees to the right solution to a challenging problem.

Of the shop mission statements I found on the Web, the one below is the best of the bunch. It pushes the limit on length, but it outlines essential company goals in a direct way so employees at all levels within the shop could find direction when faced with a dilemma. It’s also not so generic that it’s void of meaning. The thoughtfully constructed statement is from Baity’s Precision Machining in Arden, North Carolina.

“Our mission is to provide our customers with true value in all their dealings with us. What does true value mean? We will strive to understand our customers’ processes and problems. We will provide economically manufactured parts at a superior speed and quality, which meets or exceeds our customers’ expectations. We will apply the principles of employee development, advanced technology investment, experience and ingenuity to assist our customers in reducing their costs using the principles of continuous improvement.”

“Time passes, conditions change, the world progresses — and those who are found keeping pace with the new order of things are those who are young enough in mind and spirit to recognize the value of the new and to make themselves a part of it.” - Don G. Gardner

As for our company, Gardner Business Media, the quote highlighted above, while perhaps not a mission statement per se, has served to guide the company throughout its 95-year history. This was written by Don G. Gardner, founder of Gardner Business Media, and included in the premier June 1928 issue of Modern Machine Shop. Consider these words as you navigate your shop through changing conditions, meeting new challenges and taking on new opportunities along the way just as we continue to do.