Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

Scroll Is Recognized

One of the top 10 industries in the nation was recently recognized by the Clark County Industrial Council.

Scroll Technologies was honored for being named one of the best 10 industries of any kind in October and was written up in Industry Week magazine.

Steve Strickland, with Scroll, told the CCIC members the company began operating in Clark County in 1997 and was in the business of making compressors for air conditioners.

Officially, though, the company began in '92 as Carrier, but became Scroll in '95 when the two businesses entered into a joint venture.

This, Strickland said, was one of those rare ventures between two companies that actually worked. Most such enterprises fail shortly after being formed for a myriad of reasons.

But this one, he said, was successful because the companies involved shared information and technology, focused on know how, while reducing risks and maximizing strengths.

However, the venture wasn't without problems, Strickland said. In '95, shortly after the companies joined forces there was a shutdown which lasted most of the fall.

The companies, along with employees stuck together and in '97 it all proved to be worth the hardship.

Currently, he said, the company has logged 2.3 million man hours without lost time due to injury.

For the second straight year the company has achieved a remarkable 100 percent on-time delivery rate, while improving reliability by 70 percent and reducing costs by 60 percent.

Employee turnover has been cut by two-thirds, he said, because the people feel more secure than they did during the early years.

Additionally, customer satisfaction has risen, while cycle time has dropped.

Strickland attributes the company's success to solid leadership, and by constantly keeping an eye on the long-term objectives.

These objectives, he said, are measured regularly and cascaded throughout the business.

"We started the process based on visions," Strickland told the CCIC members. "We had a consultant come in and help make them a reality to drive the business."

The company, he said, operates on four values: customers, community, business and employees.

The employees are more than just people putting out a product at Scroll. They are encouraged to be involved, make suggestions and let the management know when things aren't right.

In return, the company recently held a health fair for the employees and their families, along with working to improve the health plan offered.

And, he added, the employees are represented during the hiring process. Potential workers go through a team consensus interview to see if they measure up to company standards.

The company also does quarterly employee surveys to see how things are going, with the results posted at information centers in the plant.

Scroll, Strickland said, has worked with Garland County Community College in Hot Springs to develop a two-year on-site management program with those completing it earning a degree.

But, those interested in trying for the degree must first complete a test to see if they qualify.

The employees, he continued, go through performance reviews, with a profit sharing plan based on performance and improvements.

When it comes time for internal company awards, he said, the employees themselves make the recommendations for who the recipients are.

In 1999, he added, the salaries paid by the company were $15 million, while Scroll paid $451,000 in property taxes and more than $60,000 in sales tax.

The company and its employees are involved with the United Way, American Red Cross, Southwest Arkansas Development Council, Humane Society of Clark County, American Cancer Society, Arkadelphia-Clark County Chamber of Commerce and other such organizations.

The company has also received several awards for its efforts. These include the Carrier Q- Plus award, Quality Achievement Award and was named Rotary Business of the Year.

At this time, Strickland said, the company offers more than 100 models of compressors.

Its projected goal for 2004 is to build 1 million compressors a year. This, he said, will be almost double the current production rate.

To achieve this lofty goal, he added, Scroll will have to hire 200 to 250 more people.

In talking about being named one of the top 10 businesses in the nation, Strickland said it began with a 20-page application.

The application required a considerable amount of data on all aspects of the plant and operations, along with the demand of six pages of narrative on why Scroll should be considered.

In July the company was told it had made the top 25 list, and had another set of papers to fill out, this time a 40-page application.

This was done and in August the company was officially notified it was one of the 10 best in America.