Harris Teeter 1998 Annual Report Download - page 18

Ruddick Corporation
and Subsidiaries
16 Productivity
A&E is committed to maintaining
clean and efficient plants, with state-of-the-
art equipment. Our investments continue
to result in annual growth in pounds pro-
duced per labor hour. During fiscal 1998,
capital expenditures of $20.2 million were
utilized for a variety of projects. These
included the construction of a new
customer support center, the further
modernization of our dyeing and finishing
facilities and the continued upgrading of
our spinning plants. Since the acquisition
in 1996 of four manufacturing facilities
from Threads USA, A&E has been able to
close two, while maintaining the Threads
customer base, and expects further stream-
lining of its distribution process in fiscal
1999. The company’s underlying Total
Quality Management (TQM) philosophy
helps employees identify key product
characteristics and translate them to
key process controls to achieve process
improvements, shorter manufacturing cycle
times and a reduction in costs.
Service
The newly constructed customer sup-
port center consolidated all customer
interface functions, including sales sup-
port and administration, customer service,
credit and marketing. This represented a
key accomplishment in the integration of
the business and support functions of the
acquisition of Threads USA. We improved
customer service levels through better
Domestic and International Sales
■U.S.
■International
A&E’s international sales continue
to expand each year.
84% 74%
16% 26%
A&E’s highly automated dye
house is monitored through
sophisticated systems from one
central location.
1994 1998