Blog

At Milliken, we put safety at the forefront of our manufacturing operations globally. Our associates are the most important part of our company, so we foster a culture of safety to provide for associate well-being. Since we have multiple work sites around the world, we cannot apply a ‘blanket approach’ to safety, nor would we want to. Each location’s needs are taken into account as we design a safety program specific to that site. Each and every associate plays a vital role in this culture of safety—from plant managers to newly hired associates—so we sat down with four Milliken associates to understand how they prioritize safety.

Since the early 1980s, safety has played a prominent role in how we as a company do business. We find that, when they come to work in a connected, protected environment, our associates are able to focus on their roles and thrive in their professional careers. Safety is of foundational importance in achieving this ideal and is a tenant we carefully cultivate on an ongoing basis.

“I wake up excited to go to work each day,” shares Gary “Hawk” Hawkins, a Milliken floor covering research associate, “and this is, I think, the key to being happy with your job for a long time.”

Our associates are the driving force behind all we accomplish at Milliken. From their passion for making a difference each day to their commitment to our values-based approach to business, Milliken associates bring a wide range of thoughts, ideas and perspectives to move our company forward. The range and breadth of diversity, whether of experience, background or skill set, enhances our ability to bring to market solutions that more effectively solve everyday challenges.

As an innovations company, we are keenly aware of the impact STEM-related education has on our associate talent worldwide. It is through the lens of science and technology we are able to advance our work as a global manufacturer.

“Quality is not an act; it is a habit.” – Aristotle

Across the industries we serve, we are challenging ourselves to think differently about the everyday problems our innovations may help to solve. Through the lens of the values that have guided us for more than 150 years, we work to provide meaningful solutions to problems and, at the same time, reframe the conversation about how these solutions create a better world for us as individuals, as a company and as a community.

This year saw a changing landscape at Milliken, an ever-evolving path toward growth and continuous innovation. We celebrated 60 years at the Roger Milliken Center, trained local vocational high school students in partnership with OSHA and explored the evolving definition of sustainability to further safety within our communities, and concluded the year with an R&D 100 Merit Award. 

The holidays find many of us baking in the kitchen, and it’s a wonderful opportunity to creatively integrate the concepts of STEAM education, or science, technology, engineering, art and math, into holiday festivities with children. Every day at the Milliken Guest House, Executive Chef Matt Ryan creates new recipes for guests at our global headquarters. Discover the role innovation plays within his kitchen, why the holiday season brings out his imaginative side, and a favorite cookie recipe for you and your family to enjoy. 

Safety processes ground everything we do at Milliken —from the associates we hire to the day-to-day management of our more than 35 manufacturing facilities. We are honored to have people on the Milliken team with a dedicated passion for safety, and ultimately, paving the way for innovative thinking.