Journey to Excellence-Transforming Our Organization: Cargill Corn Milling

Ron Feola discusses Cargill's corn milling journey from a plant-centric model to an enterprise-wide approach, emphasizing leadership, determination, and feedback. The company faced industry challenges but achieved success through strategic changes and won the Baldrige Award, highlighting the importance of continuous improvement and employee involvement.

What was the initial business model of Cargill Corn Milling?

• Quality-driven

• Customer-focused

• Plant-centric

• Enterprise-wide

What led to the creation of Cargill's corporate quality department?

• Expansion of product lines

• Customer requirements for quality

• Acquisition of new plants

• Industry overcapacity

What was a major change in Cargill's business model to improve operations?

• Reducing the number of employees

• Shifting to an enterprise-wide approach

• Focusing on a single plant

• Increasing product prices

What was the outcome of Cargill's first enterprise-wide business excellence application?

• They received the award

• They scored poorly

• They were disqualified

• They received a site visit

What was a key factor in Cargill's journey to business excellence?

• Leadership involvement and support

• Focusing on profits

• Ignoring feedback

• Reducing plant numbers

Why did Cargill decide to apply for the Baldrige Award?

• To increase profits

• To receive external feedback

• To reduce costs

• To expand globally

What was a significant outcome of the Baldrige feedback for Cargill?

• They closed several plants

• They increased product prices

• They stopped applying for awards

• They improved their leadership system

What was the ultimate result of Cargill's Baldrige journey?

• They received the Baldrige Award

• They decided to stop applying

• They merged with another company

• They focused solely on profits

What does the acronym STORY stand for in Cargill's context?

• Steps, Timing, Owners, Results, Improvements

• Systems, Teams, Objectives, Resources, Yield

• Structure, Timing, Objectives, Results, Yield

• Strategy, Tactics, Operations, Results, Yield

What is emphasized as crucial for a process-honoring culture?

• Ignoring external feedback

• Leadership involvement and support

• Focusing on profits

• Reducing employee numbers