A lot of companies speak about the importance of having the right people in the right roles. Very few commit to the mantra like West Michigan International.
Known across the Michigan trucking sector for decades for its strong family values, immeasurable customer service and tremendous service expertise, in recent years West Michigan International has become a practitioner of the Entrepreneurial Operating System (EOS), a set of business practices and concepts that help companies clarify and achieve their vision.
Admittedly, Dealer Principal and President Ed Rietman says West Michigan’s vision hasn’t wavered since he and business partner Jeff Kolean founded it as a rebuilder and service shop in the 1980s. The company that became K&R Truck Sales and West Michigan International has always had a keen focus on uptime and driving headaches and downtime out of customer’s operations.
Where EOS has taken the business up a notch has been in how it enabled the company’s management to better position its associates and lead its workforce. West Michigan International has never run more efficiently than it does today, with employee turnover rates at all-time lows and sales at all-time highs.
It’s also helped the company to be named a finalist for the second time for the Successful Dealer Award.
“A big part of EOS is making sure you have the right person in the right seat and that has been huge for us,” says Rietman. “We have a lot of great people. EOS has helped us to better understand who should be customer facing and who might have more success in other roles.”
Workforce evaluation has enabled West Michigan International to move its associates into the roles that best fit their personalities and skill sets.
