When the Heart Drives the Business

When the Heart Drives the Business

By Michael Greiner, Avanos Senior Vice President, Chief Financial Officer, and Chief Transformation Officer

Most companies talk a good game when it comes to putting their customers' needs first, but how do you really put that thinking into action?

A few weeks ago, Joe Woody, Avanos' CEO, shared his thoughts about a company's "why" - its purpose, its cause and the very reason a business exists. For Avanos, we've never wavered from our why: the patients who rely on our medical devices are the heart of our business, and serving their needs is a shared passion among our 3,000-plus employees around the world.

Recently, I visited two of our production facilities in Tijuana and Nogales, Mexico. Besides being incredibly well-run plants, what struck me most during my time in Mexico was the dedication of our employees and the great care they take in manufacturing and assembling complex products in an efficient and sterile environment.

The work they do is not easy; it is precision-based and highly technical. (I know this because I tried my hand at assembling one of our pain relief products - and my sincere but futile attempt certainly had a negative impact on the day's labor efficiency rates!)

What I witnessed was a genuine commitment by our team to quality, safety and above all, to producing the best possible products for the patients who rely on them. The pride they demonstrate in their work clearly reflects our customer-centric Value as well as our Vision of getting patients back to the things that matter. When that customer focus resonates throughout every level of your organization, you'll have a rock-solid foundation from which every future success will flow.

It's easy to get wrapped up in the day-to-day responsibilities of our jobs, but when your priorities are always to work safely, efficiently and with your customers' interests top of mind, you'll never lose sight of your "why." And that's good business all around.