Bob Ashley
Takes initiative. Credits the team for his success. Believes planning is key to efficient operations.
Ten years ago, Bob began his career at Olympic Steel as the Maintenance Manager of the Gary, IN division. After having worked in an industrial setting for over 20 years, he was more than ready to contribute to the growth and success of the newly opened division.
Bob takes his role in maintaining the facility seriously, from cost-saving projects to a strict preventive maintenance schedule. “My proudest moments are when a project comes together,” he says. “We can stand back and say we did a great job.”
There have been many proud moments since Bob’s been with the division. He’s been part of the growth and development of the division from the very beginning; he’s proud of that – and how far they’ve come. When he started, Bob was the sole employee in the Maintenance Department – he brought his own tools and worked extra hours to get things done. Now, after the completion of projects like the installation of energy-efficient lighting, Bob says, “the facility is bright, clean and stocked with a strong inventory of supplies and parts.”
Bob credits the support of the entire team at the division, from everyone on the floor to division leadership, for helping him achieve success throughout his Olympic Steel career. He says, “From troubleshooting issues, programming machines, scheduling maintenance or participating in keeping ourselves and others safe, every member of the Gary team knows their role and how we can work together to achieve our desired results.”
The people he works with and the job he does make him happy to come to work each day. By communicating well with each other, Bob says, “we get done, what needs to get done, when it needs to get done.”
And if he runs into a challenge, he accepts it as an opportunity to learn something new. He believes bumps in the road are inevitable, and when he comes across them, he tackles the challenge head-on. “Bob Ashley is dedicated to making Olympic Steel a better company,” says Damon Wos, General Manager for the Gary, IN and Schaumburg, IL divisions. “He is respected by his peers and always willing to go above and beyond without having to be asked.”
One example of his dedication to his role and the division is the creation of Maintenance Day. Once a month, the warehouse shuts down for eight hours so the maintenance department can perform preventive maintenance checks and fix identified issues before they have a chance to cause larger problems. “We don’t have breakdowns because we’re able to keep the machines in good, working order,” Bob explains.
It takes a lot of planning to pull off an event like Maintenance Day each month. Bob believes planning ahead is essential to efficient operations. Whether it’s planning preventive maintenance or strategically ordering spare parts so the division is always capable of handling any issue that may arise, he repeats: “Plan ahead and communicate effectively.”
He’s used this advice to help him achieve success throughout his career and when asked what advice he has for others on how to build a successful career, he emphasized teamwork, saying, “Watch and learn from more experienced co-workers, then safely push yourself to be better and enjoy your work.”
