In April we see a focus on autism and on hiring individuals with cognitive or developmental disabilities in World Autism Day. In recognition of this commemorative day, on April 2nd, the following statement was made by the White House:
“On World Autism Awareness Day, we reaffirm our commitment to ensuring that the more than 5 million Americans who live with autism are able to make the most of their talents and participate fully in our society, and we celebrate the contributions autistic Americans have made to our families, our communities, our Nation, and the world.”
AMS has a long and rewarding history of hiring individuals with disabilities. Looking back on our news reports, we see a strong, cooperative relationship with Pleasantview Industries and other community organizations serving individuals with disabilities. We also see a presence on the Mayor’s Committee for Employment of Individuals with Disabilities; an event recognizing employers of individuals with disabilities at College of the Canyons as well as a continental breakfast event at AMS on behalf of the Autism community.
After that AMS event, then CEO of AMS, Ken Wiseman said, “It has been hard work in years past to place many individuals, but we have seen so much progress. In our experience at AMS, individuals with disabilities are excellent employees, eager to enter the workplace and demonstrate their abilities. All of us have been touched with deep appreciation.”
And we don’t just talk the talk. Our relationship with community organizations, and our commitment to hire individuals with disabilities continues and advances in the present day. We truly value our partnership with Pleasantview Industries, an organization working within the community for many decades. We also partner with New Horizons, a non-profit serving individuals with special needs; Desert Haven, an organization supporting individuals with developmental disabilities and the US Department of Rehabilitation, which assists people with disabilities in obtaining and retaining employment. In addition to partnering with these excellent organizations, AMS works with Bridge to Home which supports the homeless population in finding employment.
Regarding the AMS focus on diversity in hiring and inclusion of individuals with disabilities, Samantha Hicks, Senior Programs Administrator, stated: “AMS prides itself in our diverse workforce, and welcomes with open arms all members of our community. Through AMS DEI Trainings, and DEI Champions Club, we have a culture that strives to inspire and maintain trust on the basis of ethical decision-making. We treat each other with respect and communicate often and openly to foster collaborative efforts. We appreciate the value of diverse backgrounds, expertise, ideas and incorporate multiple perspectives in decision-making and strategic actions.”
Finally, we would like to mention an article in Business Matters Magazine which points to the benefits of employing people with disabilities and autism… benefits that we at AMS Fulfillment have experienced: “As we recently marked World Autism Day, where people are encouraged to provide opportunities to increase understanding and acceptance of people with autism, I’d particularly like the business community to consider the benefits of employing people with a learning disability, autism spectrum condition or both.”
The month of March has been a very special one for B Corporations. The B The Change organization, and many participating B Corporations, including AMS Fulfillment, have been celebrating B Corp Month, getting to know each other, attending training webinars and accomplishing special projects. The organization concluded the celebration by reporting on how all of us B Corps are advocating for the spread of positive impact. AMS Fulfillment is proud to have been included among the businesses featured in their latest publication.
Explaining their choices of companies to feature, the organization stated:
“The broader approach to business success taken at Certified B Corporations means balancing profit with impact on stakeholders such as workers, community members, and the environment. This can play into every business decision, from which company to partner with (do they pay employees a living wage?), to product choices (which packaging has the least environmental impact?), and more. We’re going Behind the B during B Corp Month to celebrate the ways that B Corps are using business as a force for good.”
The first B Corp featured in their article is called Get Lagos Now, located in Portland, OR. It describes itself as a partnership to support marginalized youths and people who are homeless. This business partners with another Portland business that collects working laptops, tablets and cellphones, refurbishes them and donates them to support people who are homeless in the community. Click HERE to visit their website.
The next B Corp that is featured is one we are familiar with. They have a terrific blog in which they included our own Betty-Lou Wiseman in an article featuring the achievements of women. It’s a Toronto-based marketing agency called 5&Vine that invests in startups and incubating ideas. In the article they talk about The Challenger Brand, which is a new quarterly project that includes releasing a limited-design sustainable T-shirt, with profits used for no-strings grants that go to community organizations. You can visit their website HERE.
Another featured B Corp, Moye White LLP, describes its task as providing resources for climate action and sustainability. Here is a quote from the article: With the knowledge that buildings play a large role in the climate crisis — generating almost 40% of the world’s annual CO2 emissions through operations, material, and construction —Moye White LLP helped develop a collaborative publication that looks to address climate change through changes to the built environment. You can visit their website HERE.
And finally, let’s look at AMS Fulfillment, featured for building a more diverse and knowledgeable workforce and community!!! Below is a quote from the article:
Building a knowledgeable and diverse workforce is a part of the company culture at AMS Fulfillment , which provides fulfillment and distribution services to consumer products companies. The B Corp’s 600 employees — at sites in Los Angeles, Pennsylvania, and Delaware — have access to paid personal betterment and professional training during work hours.
“Long ago, we recognized that success in the workplace for many individuals requires ongoing training programs focused on areas where there are challenges,” CEO Jay Catlin says. “Offering paid courses during work hours allows all of our employees the opportunity for betterment. This has been a major step in equity at AMS.”
Please enjoy the full article HERE, at bthechange.com!
We have enjoyed B Corp Month, connecting with other B Corporations and hearing their fascinating stories.
Thank you for your exemplary performance during the month of February: Stacy J., Rio V., Naruebet P., Henry D., Perla N., Ivan S., Scott B., Nigelee W. and Amber S.!
In the fulfillment industry, employees directly serve the company’s clients, making their efforts vital to the growth and success of the business. At AMS Fulfillment we appreciate and value our employees, and we respect and invest in them.
The following nominations demonstrate that the individual being recognized has gone above and beyond and deserves Special Thanks! All winners will receive an Employee of the Month Certificate & T-Shirt!
Stacy J., Sr. Account Manager (05/21/2012) HQ Administration, CA
I Nominate Stacy for February Employee of the Month because… Stacy is an exemplary leader who has shaped the managers on our team. She is patient and makes every mistake a teachable learning experience. She always challenges us in ways that make us better at our job. I want to nominate Stacy because she so deserves the recognition for all the hard work she puts in every day.
Rio V., General Warehouse II (11/17/2021) HQ Warehouse, CA
I nominate Rio for February Employee of the Month because… This young man has astonished me in the way he works. How he continues to ask questions, learn as much as he can and is always ready to work. He has helped us out in receiving and I have to say he has caught on quickly. The team and I like his work ethic and skills. His desire to learn and do the job right is beyond compare. Rio has a great attitude and always performs great work. He also a huge help in other departments.
Naruebet P., General Warehouse II (11/10/2021) WIT, CA
I nominate Naruebet for February Employee of the Month because… Naruebet joined us in November and has done a great job learning the different functions of operations. He is dependable and eager to learn. Naruebet is very approachable, open to receiving instructions and taking on new tasks.
Henry D., Shipping Supervisor I (09/13/2021) WIL, CA
I nominate Henry for February Employee of the Month because… Henry has shown great potential in the short time he has been working at AMS. He always comes in with a positive attitude, prepared for the tasks of the day. He has immediately demonstrated how quick and efficient he can be in all areas. In the last two months, Operations believed in his capabilities and skills, so he was given the opportunity of managing the circulation of four clients. He embraced this and demonstrated that he is the model employee that AMS needs.
Perla N., General Warehouse II (02/25/2022) LIV, CA
I nominate Perla for February Employee of the month because… although she is our department’s newest addition, she has stepped up and become one of our top performers. She has such a positive attitude and is willing to learn anything and everything.
Ivan S., General Warehouse II F (04/01/2021) HAR, CA
I nominate Ivan for Employee of the Month. Ivan takes it upon himself to learn all facets of our business. He often helps in all areas, looking for improvement or taking lead for his crew. He is an extremely dedicated employee showing up at 5 a.m. if necessary and is very dependable. No matter the task, Ivan can be counted on to give 110%, ask questions, and goes above and beyond for his crew and our clients.
Scott B., Manager of Technical Devices (05/25/2016) New Holland, PA
I nominate Scott for February Employee of the Month because… Scott has been my direct report since I joined AMS and has always been available to teach and coach me on processes here whenever I need help. He is always willing to share advice when I cannot figure something out on my own. One thing I like is he will help you find the answers versus doing the work for you. He has an open-door policy for conversations. He is a great example of leadership here at AMS.
Nigelee W., DFC Operator (11/01/2021) New Castle, DE
I would like to nominate Nigelee (Lee). She joined our team about a year ago from a temp agency and quickly became a very reliable, dependable employee. Lee took the opportunity to convert to full-time status this past November and became a group lead in assembly. She is always at work with a smile on her face and she has a very laid back vibe that is easy to get along with. She does a great job of training new associates on assembly jobs and makes them feel a part of the group. Lee is very versatile when it comes to lending a hand in other departments and is willing to learn new processes. She is also good about coming to me when something is going wrong or she doesn’t fully understand a task. That shows me her motivation to grow within this company and her desire to complete a task to the best of her ability. Lee embodies what we look for in an A-player between her work ethic and her company culture and I am so grateful to have her as a part of our team!
Amber S., Exact Staff, contracted (10/12/2021) Newark, DE
I nominate Amber for February Employee of the Month because… Amber is an exceptionally hard worker. Her work ethic is contagious, and the team follows her lead. She creates an atmosphere of motivation, and this is what every successful team needs. Keep up the hard work Amber, AMS appreciates what you do!
To all of our Honorees, please know that whatever role you play, you are the reason for our success. Congratulations and Thank You!
March is Women’s History Month; Women’s History Week began March 7th and March 8th was International Women’s Day. A glance at history, and a look around at the world, will tell us why we need a month, a week and a day giving a salute to women.
At history.com we find the following: “Women’s History Month is a celebration of women’s contributions to history, culture and society and has been observed annually in the month of March in the United States since 1987.”
We are more than happy to salute the women of AMS – from top executives to the warehouse floor. Every single one has climbed her own mountain and we celebrate the contributions of all. In this writing we will give a special salute to the women in leadership positions at AMS Fulfillment:
Betty-Lou Wiseman, President AMS West, CA; Bobbi Booher, CFO, CA; Carmen Kernek, VP of Human Resources, CA; Kimberly Peszek, VP of Client Services, PA; and the Directors of Client Services, Evelyn Ruiz, CA; Zuleika Gonzales, CA and Maryanne Amalfitano, DE.
During the past month we have seen many published tributes to deserving women. Thoughtful writers made it clear that although we shine the light on the ones at the top, every woman is an achiever. Motherhood is an achievement, supporting family is an achievement, and supporting oneself and the challenges of life is an achievement.
In recognition of the Women at AMS, we contacted the President of AMS West, Betty-Lou; our CFO, Bobbi; Carmen, our VP of Human Resources; and Maryanne and Zuleika, Client Services Directors, asking if they would be willing to tell us what woman in their life, whether historical, personal or professional, inspired and motivated them to achieve. We thank them for telling their stories, offered here below.
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Betty-Lou Wiseman
The woman who has inspired me to achieve in life overall was my mother, Emma Ashman. Her priority was to take amazing care of her children and husband. She was there for all four of us until we left the nest. Watching her commitment in life to her family made me set high goals for myself to make her proud.
My goal in business was to be a strong leader, impact lives by teaching, to be compassionate, respectful, empathetic, and proud of the people I work with. I knew if I was successful with these qualities I would climb to the top. My mother taught me to be driven and not to ever give up. Making to President of AMS shows I did what it takes.
Not only in business did I set goals but the goal to give the same commitment that she did to our family to my family. The longevity in being married was a goal to match and to bring up your children in a way that makes you proud. I have conquered those being married for 42 years and being very proud of my sons.
I miss my mother but can hear her everyday saying how proud she is.
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Bobbi Booher
I have been extremely fortunate to have had a few mentors and sources of inspiration in both my personal and professional life. I would be hard pressed to call out a single person as being the most “motivational” but there has certainly been a common thread among those I have found to be truly inspirational.They all provided me with the tools and freedom to do and be whatever I set my mind to.
My earliest source of inspiration was my mother. She never tried to make me fit a “mold” of what I was supposed to be, but rather supported the notion that I could do or be whatever I set my mind to so long as I had a plan to get there. She never did any of the work for me and allowed me to hit the bumps in the road that are pivotal to growth and success while still providing that support when needed. That is something that I recall from my youngest memories.
Along the same lines, my first boss was also an incredible source of inspiration and gave me an opportunity to take on a challenge that on paper didn’t seem like something I could accomplish. After some convincing, providing a road map, and the promise that if it didn’t work out, I’d gladly turn it over to someone “more qualified”, I was given the green light. Once again, I was allowed the independence and the opportunity, while being provided appropriate guidance, but the outcome was in my hands.
I’ve always been inspired by those that allow me to step outside the “box” and my comfort zone while being there to provide their experience and guidance when needed. While I believe motivation is something that comes from within each of us, there are certainly those special people who truly provide the inspiration to achieve.
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Carmen Kernek
My Mother and Grandmother have inspired me to strive to be the best at what I do. Both my mother, Josefina Cortez and her mother, Guadalupe Cortez, were immigrants from Mexico.
My grandmother, who my siblings and I affectionally called MamaPita, was widowed when my mother was five years of age, and she left my mother in Mexico, with her sisters, to make a living in Los Angeles, in order to have and provide better opportunities to her daughter, Josefina, my mother. As a mother, I cannot imagine the agony in making this decision and the strength and determination she had to leave her daughter and start fresh in a new country…. But she did. My mother at such a young age, needed to figure life out, without her own mother – again, I can only imagine how tough it was for her. Fast forwarding to several years later…. MamaPita became a seamstress in Los Angeles and sent for my mother so that they could be together again. Through her actions, MamaPita demonstrated the strength and determination that women need in order to be successful in life – to my mother and her seven children (two boys and five girls).
It is literally with tears in my eyes in recalling the struggles in my personal life and the lives of my mother and grandmother, that I can say with every ounce of me that it is because of these wonderfully strong women…. my mother and grandmother… who demonstrated perseverance, strength and determination, that my siblings and I strive to be better than yesterday… every day.
** ** **
Maryanne Amalfitano
Lori Homsher was a co-worker of mine when I worked at Sheeran Direct Marketing. She was the President of IT and we traveled a lot together. During our travels and at work she explained a lot of technical processes which helped me understand the 3PL world at a different level. She also taught IT security classes and was involved in many business groups. She inspired me to challenge and create goals for myself to further advance my career.
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Zuleika Gonzales
I have had a lot of strong and important women that have made an impact in my career. I admire their perseverance, and knowledge that they’ve shared along the years. The most important woman that has made an impact in my life is my mother… hardworking, passionate, and committed at anything she does. My family is what is most important to me, and I get that from her. Every day she continues to show her unconditional love, support, and positive energy, and that is just an example that I try to follow with my own family.
Thank you Betty-Lou, Bobbi, Carmen, Maryanne and Zuleika, and thank you to ALL of the Women at AMS! Power ON!!!
In today’s landscape of multichannel commerce, a supply chain that fires on all cylinders is essential for success. At the heart of this, for any fruitful business, is efficient and effective fulfillment services. This means being able to pick, pack and ship with high degrees of accuracy, efficiency and capacity.
The modern fulfillment center or warehouse should be organized around these elements as the highest priorities, or else your company can and will experience delays and mistakes that hurt your standing with customers.
Pick, pack and ship services might seem simple at first glance. An order comes into the warehouse, a packing list is created and the items are collected off the racks by human workers or robots. Once the items are all gathered, they are prepared for shipping. However, there are many nuances to how these tasks get done.
There are numerous techniques and methods that may be right for your operations and needs. Choosing the ones that are most beneficial for you begins with knowing each one and what type of advantages they provide. With that in mind, here’s an overview of some of the most common and what they mean.
Understanding Picking Processes
There are four basic picking procedures utilized in most fulfillment centers:
Piece Picking: This is the most obvious and simplest picking method. It involves an employee taking the packing slip for a single order and grabbing each item on the list one at a time. It’s typically used by smaller businesses that only need to fill a few orders each day and have limited SKUs — so there’s little confusion about which item is which.
Batch picking: This method ups the complexity slightly in exchange for greater efficiency with a larger number of orders. In this model, pickers group orders based on where in the warehouse the items are located. This means they don’t have to backtrack to different sections of the facility for each order because multiple orders can be fulfilled from the same general area.
Zone picking: For warehouses and fulfillment centers that cover a lot of real estate, it might make sense to go with zone picking. This involves pickers who stay stationed in a particular zone and only pick items within their zones. Orders are passed from zone to zone until all items are picked. This generally requires a more sophisticated system involving warehouse management software due to the complexity of the system.
Wave picking: Combining elements of the previous two models, wave picking means pickers are still confined to a specific zone. In this case, however, they pick for a batch of orders as opposed to one order at a time. When each wave of orders is completed in a zone, they are moved along to the next in line.
Successful Storage Strategies
Likewise, there are myriad ways to organize your inventory based on your needs and which models work best for your operations. Here are four of the most frequently employed techniques in pick and pack fulfillment centers:
Like with like: In this model, items are stored according to their type. For example, umbrellas of different colors and sizes are grouped on the same shelf. Although this may seem intuitive, it can introduce problems because it increases the chances of the wrong item being picked by accident.
Chaotic: Don’t let the name scare you. This tactic helps improve picking accuracy. Instead of all umbrellas being on the same shelf, each size and/or color is grouped with unrelated items. This means there is a far lesser chance a picker will grab a large blue umbrella when the order is for a small blue umbrella. However, this technique requires the use of a 3PL warehouse management system to help ensure employees don’t have to memorize the layout of your entire facility.
Volume-based: This strategy involves placing items with the highest turnover as close to the packing station as they can be. Those that sell the slowest are placed in the farthest reaches of the floor. This means pickers don’t have to take as many steps over the course of the day and most orders are filled quickly.
Class-based: Related to the volume-based strategy is class-based inventory, where items that share certain qualities are stored. For example, items that require the same packing materials could be grouped so they are all within the same distance of the packing station.
Choosing the Right Partner
Having a fulfillment partner that understands all of these models is critical for your success. AMS Fulfillment provides best-in-class pickup, pack and ship services — thanks to our advanced technology, experienced personnel, scalable facilities and effective inventory control procedures.
If you would like to learn more about everything we can do for you, get in touch today.
Business owners know that going above and beyond the call of duty is a surefire way to win the hearts and minds of their customers. Being able to offer a little bit more than they expect means consumers will be more likely to offer you their patronage next time.
The same is true when it comes time for you to choose a third-party logistics partner to help you fill your customers’ orders. If you can find one that offers value-added services (VAS) in addition to the basics, you could save time and money, as well as speed up your supply chain.
What are value-added services as they pertain to 3PL? Read to learn how they can help you.
Going the Extra Mile
What is a VAS from a 3PL partner? In simple terms, a VAS is any additional capability that a 3PL may offer in addition to picking, packing, shipping and other basics of fulfillment. These services have become especially prevalent with the rise of e-commerce, where customers often expect more than a plain cardboard box. Being able to provide these added-value services means a third-party provider can give your company greater flexibility and broader options for customization.
Here is a quick rundown of some of the most common VAS:
Kitting/assembly — This means bundling multiple products into a single SKU for easier picking. In its simplest form, kitting involves wrapping two of the same items together. More complex kitting practices involve combining items that are usually bought in the same order into a single package to make them easier to pick and pack.
Packaging/labeling — Whether they are packaging goods for store shelves or labeling them with barcodes for the next phase of the journey, a third-party fulfillment partner who can handle packaging and labeling tasks can bring efficiency to your processes.
Reworking/refurbishment — Sometimes, pre-made packages need to be broken down into their component items or repackaged for quality control concerns. A partner who can offer these services as part of its general offerings can take these worries off your shoulders.
Printing/design — The messaging for your packaging can change quickly, and personalized messages to your customers make them more likely to return. Integrating these capabilities into traditional fulfillment means a 3PL partner can react with greater speed and efficiency than an outside printing or design firm.
The Right Partner Makes All the Difference
As you can see, choosing a fulfillment provider who can deliver more than just the basics can put you in a much better position to serve your customers.
As a leading 3PL company serving a broad range of industries, AMS Fulfillment offers a wide selection of value-added services aimed at making your job easier and more efficient. We have the capabilities and technology to go further than many of our competitors are willing to go, and we’re committed to helping you succeed.
When it comes to understanding how the supply chain, the wholesale distribution center may be one of the unsung heroes of commerce. It’s an essential element that keeps goods flowing from manufacturers to consumers, but many people don’t really understand what it is or what happens there. Without it, however, industries ranging from consumer products to health care to food and beverage would be unable to keep their items on store shelves. Read on to learn about this crucial link in the supply chain and the many roles it serves.
Understanding Wholesale Distribution
Before getting into the role of a distribution center, it’s important to talk about how wholesale b2b fulfillment works. In the simplest terms, wholesalers function as an intermediary between the manufacturer and the retailer. Manufacturers, for the most part, are concerned with the actual production of goods, and retailers market these goods to consumers. Wholesalers fill a variety of roles in-between, such as arranging for the transportation of products and storing excess inventory. They also may be involved in repacking or kitting, which is the process of assembling or packaging the finished product into the form it takes when it reaches the consumer.
The benefits of utilizing a wholesale model are numerous. First and foremost, a wholesaler gives the original manufacturer the ability to concentrate on its core competencies, rather than spending time and money on logistics. The wholesaler buys goods in bulk from the manufacturer, which keeps purchase costs down and enables the price of each item to be kept as low as possible. Because the wholesaler handles all the elements of transporting and storing those goods, the manufacturer doesn’t need to keep an inventory or concern itself with arranging for shipments and deliveries.
Value-added services — such as kitting and assembly — also provide an attractive incentive for working with wholesalers. A wholesaler has the equipment and capability to handle these steps with ease, so the manufacturer doesn’t have to. A manufacturer makes the product, but the wholesale distributor makes that product presentable and sellable.
Wholesalers also sell products directly to retailers at a slightly higher price than they paid themselves, meaning the manufacturer doesn’t need to worry about finding buyers for its offerings. All these tasks would be exceedingly difficult for a manufacturing company to incorporate into its operations, and the need to maintain its own warehousing, distribution and transportation processes would add a significant amount to the cost of each individual SKU. Having a wholesale fulfillment center in the middle of the process means consumers can enjoy lower prices on what they buy at the store.
An Essential Element
Having wholesalers serve as the go-between for manufacturers, retailers and consumers makes much of today’s commerce possible. Wholesale order Fulfillment is proud to be that vital link in the chain for a large number of companies in electronics, food and beverage, and other sectors. Our expertise and multi-channel flexibility in e-commerce as well as wholesale/retail fulfillment and distribution make us an ideal partner for your business, too.
AMS Fulfillment is very concerned about respecting our Earth and protecting our future. As a B Corporation, we have made a commitment to do our part on behalf of the planet.
In our last Green Team report, we talked about plans to work with College of the Canyons LEED Interns to identify and increase environmental sustainability in our warehouses across the board. This program has not yet been officially launched, but we are confident it will be launching this year. COC and AMS are working out the details and looking forward to the “green light” to begin.
We also mentioned in our last report that we are looking forward to collaborating with 3rd party Carbon Neutral Experts. We have been actively seeking a consultant and meetings are scheduled in the coming weeks to find the best option for AMS. Samantha Hicks, AMS’ Senior Programs Administrator, offered the following:
“We are committed to being Carbon/Climate Neutral by this year, and we ARE going to do this right! Once we’ve calculated this year’s emissions, it will be time to purchase eligible verified carbon credits to avoid and/or remove an equivalent amount. That’s how AMS can become “neutral”: one carbon credit removes or avoids one tonne of carbon emissions. Projects like reforestation remove carbon from the atmosphere, while renewable energy avoids emissions from fossil fuels, which is another reason why AMS contributed to RainForest Trust in 2021.”
There is vanpool progress to report as well. AMS is looking to start vanpool at the East Coast facilities, and at the West we will be having Vanpool Meetings beginning April 6th, for all employees, in order to get more vanpools started.
Another exciting step forward involves our Safety Training. The OSHA training walks, mentioned in THIS BLOG, have now evolved to include OSHA/Green Team Training Walks, effective April 6th, and every 3 weeks following. These walks will train a group of AMS employees who will be responsible for completing the Green Team Checklist for their warehouse, on a monthly basis, to ensure their warehouse is maintaining a Green Culture. This group can be contacted at [email protected].
And finally, AMS West Green Team and the AMS East Green Team officially launched their joint efforts this January. Samantha said, “Green Team Meetings continue to take place weekly, to ensure AMS is making traction on our efforts. The Green Team could not have better Representation with a group of passionate department Reps who truly care about making a difference in the company and in the world we share. Last week’s win, Purchasing has designed a Catalog of best options for our packing material and our COO, Daniel Butera, is working towards less wasteful shrink pallet wrap. Each meeting we are excited to bring ‘Being the Change’ to the table.”
Since the covid pandemic began, businesses have been confronted with immense challenges. In 2020, the Fulfillment industry was tasked with operating in the midst of the crisis as an essential business. While millions of us, avoiding the pandemic, relied on fulfillment companies to handle our packages and products and get them delivered, the companies faced the enormous challenge of keeping their employees safe, and assisting their clients in dealing with a world turned upside down. It has been a time when great leadership is called for.
Now that we are beginning to see a return to normalcy, we can look at the functioning of business leadership during this crisis, and Inc.com has done that. In a recent article, the author states: “While leaders differ greatly in many respects, according to a new study from consultancy Potential Project that examined 5,000 companies in nearly 100 countries, all the best ones share one essential trait in common. Wisdom + Compassion = Exceptional Leadership.”
The article goes on to state, “When compassion and performance seem to be at odds, which should leaders focus on? According to the authors of the new Potential Project study, the answer to this question is what sets great leaders apart from mediocre ones. The research shows the best leaders refuse to compromise on either.”
We are so proud to state that AMS leadership has not compromised on compassion for our employees and has not faltered on performance for our clients. Our AMS safety series of blogs tell of the extraordinary steps taken to protect our employees, and our B Corp blog series covers the compassionate manner in which AMS listened to the employees when it became necessary to lay off staff. Guided by the employees themselves, honoring their requests, the company came through the crisis, and served both the employee and the client needs.
The above-mentioned article concludes with the following regarding successful leaders: “They might need to make tough choices, but they never let that reality desensitize them to the human impacts of those choices nor distract them from carrying out those tough choices in the most humane way possible. It’s a difficult balance, but the ability to strike it well is a hallmark of the very best leaders.” Read the full article HERE.
AMS Fulfillment is a B Corporation, dedicated to placing Purpose before Profit, and we are seeing, as the above article reinforces, that wisdom and compassion are the actual ingredients that create business success. It is a winning recipe in a changing world and our leadership is proving it, by its focus on workforce development, safety, environmental awareness and community involvement. Excellent service to our clients is the outcome.
Recently AMS Fulfillment was featured in the B Corporation newsletter in celebration of B Corp Month. In the article, AMS CEO, Jay Catlin, talks about our focus on training: “Offering paid courses during work hours allows all of our employees the opportunity for betterment. This has been a major step in equity at AMS.” Ken Wiseman, Chief Workforce Development Officer, is also quoted in the article: “Our challenge is to look within our company at areas such as retention, promotional opportunities, and performance coaching to make sure we are creating and maintaining equity in all areas.” Read the full article HERE.
Finally, in speaking of wisdom and compassion in leadership, the President of AMS West, Betty-Lou Wiseman, was featured by one of the members of our B Corporation family in an article celebrating International Women’s Day. Betty-Lou talked about how a fulfillment company reduces its environmental impact. Please click HERE for the article published by 5&Vine!
We celebrate purpose before profit as this is not only the humane way to live life, it is also a recipe for success. We live in a changing world and it is changing for the better. B Corporations are the evidence of that, and we are proud that our leadership has chosen to Be The Change.
In previous Safety Series blogs we have spoken about OSHA training that is offered for AMS employees, OSHA certification, and the warehouse competitions for graduates of the training course – the OSHA Challenges.
What is OSHA? It is the Occupational Safety and Health Administration. An OSHA safety plan is a written plan that describes the potential hazards in the workplace and the company policies, controls and work practices designed to minimize those hazards.
According to the OSHA dot Gov website, “OSHA’s mission is to ensure that employees work in a safe and healthful environment by setting and enforcing standards, and by providing training, outreach, education and assistance. Employers must comply with all applicable OSHA standards. They must also comply with the General Duty Clause of the OSH Act, which requires employers to keep their workplace free of serious recognized hazards.”
AMS Fulfillment is very proud of its safety record, which is in the top percentile for warehouses in the US and has been for some time due to our focus on safety.
Recently AMS made a significant change to OSHA training that enhances our capacity to train employees in warehouse safety. In an interview with Matthew Warholy, Security & Safety Manager at AMS, Matt pointed out that the changes are simply common sense:
“In the past, all of the AMS safety training courses were offered in English. When Ken Wiseman (retired Chief Workforce Development Officer) wondered why we were running out of participants, I realized that we weren’t providing equal resources for our Spanish speaking, and limited English speaking employees.
This week we had our first OSHA Safety Walk in Spanish, and it was a huge success. In the past, our OSHA walks have been instructed in English and we realized that we left out our Spanish speaking and limited English speaking co-workers. This left a large portion of our employees out of the loop. It also kept safety procedures, suggestions and solutions limited.
Today, March 16th, we had seven AMS participants and it was probably the most engaging team that we’ve ever had.
Eric Wiseman and I always lead the OSHA Safety course, but starting today, we had a valuable resource added to our team…….Operations Supervisor Tanya Crespo. Tanya translated our safety procedures in Spanish and our employees not only learned from us but offered valuable suggestions and solutions. At the end of our tour, we always thank our employees for taking time to learn about safety. Our seven participants actually thanked us for inviting them and adding them to our Safety Advocate team. We look forward to our next Spanish OSHA class.”
As a B Corporation, AMS is focused on creating a work environment where there is Diversity and Equity, and Inclusion of all employees. The decision to offer safety training in both English and Spanish is not only common sense, it also brings inclusion to the warehouse floor and the highly valuable OSHA Safety Training, the OSHA walks, and the very enjoyable OSHA Challenge.
March 8th is International Women’s Day; the month of March is Women’s History Month, and the month of March is also B Corporation Month! As a B Corporation, we have a lot to celebrate this month!
There are women in leadership positions at AMS Fulfillment, coming from diverse backgrounds, having climbed their unique mountains, and we are proud of them, and proud that our story is one of fairness and respect. We will feature and celebrate “The Women of AMS” in an upcoming blog.
In today’s world businesses are increasingly committed to being fair… a whole lot more fair than the culture was 50 years ago. Looking at history is valuable as is shows the distance we have come, which allows us to create the way forward based upon experience. No one is the loser in a fair world, and the progress that has been gained by humanity in the past few hundred years is astounding. And yet there are many mountains left to climb.
In this writing we will focus on AMS Fulfillment’s commitment as a B Corporation and the value of commemorative months to us. The intention of commemorative days and months is to allow us to explore the past, learn from past experience, examine ourselves and determine how we can improve, and then go ahead and Be the Change we wish to see in the world.
As a B Corporation we have focused on Diversity, Equity and Inclusion and as a result our AMS culture is committed to being fair, respectful, and rewarding for those who have faced discrimination or exclusion in the past. At AMS women are in positions of leadership equal to that of men – Equity. We have focused on workforce development, and as a result our workforce enjoys many opportunities for education and advancement – Inclusion. We have worked with organizations in the community to hire individuals that are too often excluded from the workforce – Diversity. And yet there is room for improvement, and we examine ourselves and make efforts to improve wherever we see it is called for.
One of the most profound changes in the American culture is the arising of the B Corporation. What is profound about a B Corporation? In a few words… a B corporation puts Purpose before Profit. A B Corp is legally committed to be good for the world! History shows us that ‘good for the world’ is a profound commitment. As we continue through B Corporation Month we will not only look at our own history and our own progress, we will look at other B Corporations and enjoy their history and progress with regard to being the change we all want to see in the world.
Happy International Women’s Day!! Happy B Corporation Month!! Let’s celebrate Being The Change!
Thank you for your exemplary performance during the month of January: Sandy V., Jerry F., Elvira A., Rogelio D., Slava F., Ivan R., Dave N., Jim G. and Brooke KP.!
In the fulfillment industry, employees directly serve the company’s clients, making their efforts vital to the growth and success of the business. At AMS Fulfillment we appreciate and value our employees, and we respect and invest in them.
The following nominations demonstrate that the individual being recognized has gone above and beyond and deserves Special Thanks! All winners will receive an Employee of the Month Certificate & T-Shirt!
Sandy V., Assistant Account Manager (09/13/2021) HQ Admin, Valencia CA
I nominate Sandy for January employee of the month. Sandy has demonstrated commitment to her accounts, always providing the best customer service experience. She’s dedicated to learning and growing and wants more of it! Her drive has allowed her to make great strives during her short time here at AMS. She’s proactive and has used what she has learned to help her figure out new situations. She’s always available to help and we appreciate all her hard work! Thank you, Sandy, for the great job that you’re doing and for always having a smile on your face.
Jerry F., Returns Clerk (04/27/2015) HQ Warehouse, Valencia CA
I nominate Jerry for employee of the month because he has kept track of all FedEx, UPS and USPS delivered packages at HQ for the past 5 years. He created structure, improved process, and strengthened the communication and tracking of all these deliveries. Additionally, he created ways to store and sort TJ returns as well as supply items. Recently Jerry has worked on improving the prize room layout and organization. Jerry is well liked by his peers and treats everyone with respect. Thank you for all of your hard work!
Elvira A., General Warehouse II (01/03/2017) WIL, Valencia CA
I nominate Elvira for employee of the month because she is an excellent worker. She has 100% commitment to do the job correctly and in an efficient way the first time. Elvira can easily change from one task to another. She will always ask if she can help others. We appreciate her commitment to her work.
Rogelio D., Inventory Supervisor I (07/13/2016) WIT, Valencia CA
I nominate Roy for employee of the month because he has been instrumental in leading our team through multiple physical inventories throughout the month. His knowledge and leadership have made each project run smoothly and seamlessly with favorable results. His efforts are truly noticed.
Slava F., General Warehouse III (06/22/2020) LIV, Valencia CA
I nominate Slava for employee of the month because his work ethic speaks for itself. He has perfect attendance, always willing to go the extra mile, always willing to work extra hours if needed, as well as come in on the weekends when requested. He is truly dedicated to AMS Fulfillment. He always has a great attitude towards all employees. Slava is an OUTSTANDING employee who shows motivation, energy, creativity, and determination to accomplish every task thrown his way. He is very dependable, has a great work ethic, has 100% attendance, and is determined to accomplish daily goals by staying overtime and working weekends if needed. There’s not one day that I don’t tell him how much I appreciate him, and other days I tell him, “What would I have done without you today!”
Ivan R., General Warehouse II F (11/12/2014) HAR, Valencia CA
I nominate Ivan for employee of the month because he has stepped up and is taking on new roles with inventory. He is handling very detailed work for our clients from QC to weekly inventory inquiries such as supply counts and detailed response for CS to relay to client. He always shows up ready to work and takes on tasks that aren’t in his job scope. He takes the time to teach his teammates and takes ownership of our clients. He is a role model for other associates.
Dave N., Director of Operations (03/26/2004) New Holland, PA
I nominate Dave for employee of the month because he is always a wealth of information! Dave is often pulled in a thousand directions and involved in everything warehouse. Yet he stills finds the time to brainstorm and teach along the way with a positive attitude. He has the patience of a saint and deserves to be acknowledged!
Jim G., DFC Supervisor (06/12/2001) New Castle, DE
I nominate Jim for employee of the month because he runs our Xerographic department and has done so for countless years. Jim is always helpful with any associates who have questions and does so with such a pleasant demeanor. His work ethic is exceptional, his reliability and attendance are spot on. This department does not get enough credit for the work they do which allows us to service our clients in assembly, fulfillment, special orders, and all-around warehouse needs. Jim is retiring soon and I, for one, think he is irreplaceable. We will all be extremely sad to see him go. What better way to help send off a dedicated, long-time employee than with the recognition he deserves!
Brooke KP., DFC Group Leader (04/26/2021) Newark, DE
I nominate Brooke for employee of the month because Brooke is my EOM. I have only been In and out of Newark for a short period of time, but in that time Brooke has really stepped up with taking on extra responsibility to make sure the facility is running efficiently! I’ve seen her come out of her comfort zone and rise to the daily challenges. She has a great future here at AMS. Thank you, Brooke !”
To all of our Honorees, please know that whatever role you play, you are the reason for our success. Congratulations and Thank You!
