Matt Ladky is Vice President of Sales and Marketing at Rolled Threads Unlimited. He has been part of our team since 2013 and is a great asset.
We sat down with him for a few moments and asked some questions. Here’s what we found out:
How long have you worked at Rolled Threads Unlimited? And what has changed since you started?
I started working at Rolled Threads Unlimited in 2013. Like many new employees, I started in the packaging department. I then moved into the position of Dies Manager before moving into the Sales & Marketing department.
Much has changed over the past eight years! This is largely due to our commitment to “continuous improvement.” We have invested heavily in the newest thread rolling technology and constantly review processes and procedures to find areas to improve efficiency.
From a marketing standpoint, we have made tremendous improvements in our online presence. In the past few years, we’ve reimagined our website, added targeted advertising campaigns and built up a more robust social media presence.
What is something important you’ve learned while on the job?
Prior to working at Rolled Threads Unlimited, I worked in the golf industry. That change from golf to manufacturing meant that I had a lot to learn about the basics of steel bars, thread rolling, and the various processes involved in our manufacturing process. I still learn something new every day.
Beyond the “book learning,” the most important thing is how important it is to empower and encourage employees from all departments. It is so important to listen to their input on what can make Rolled Threads Unlimited better, not only from an efficiency standpoint, but also as a great place to work.
What do you enjoy most about your job and working at Rolled Threads Unlimited?
We have an extremely diverse customer base that stretches across many industries. That makes it interesting and I really enjoy seeing what the parts we are making end up being used for. Whether the fasteners and parts are for a rocket, high performance engine, water control gates, or power generation application, they are critically important to our customers.
How is Rolled Threads Unlimited managing the continued disruption in the supply chain?
It has been a challenging year. From the tight steel supply, employee shortages, rising prices and disrupted supply chain, many companies are fighting the same issues. In mid-May we saw our lead times from a great number of our vendors essentially double overnight and it has continued throughout August. It is quite common for us to see vendors that typically had a two to three week turnaround, be out to eight to ten weeks now.
We have managed this by expanding our vendor base for many of our processes over the last 3 months. We also are being proactive in advising our customers about growing lead times so they can more effectively plan on their end. These extended lead times can be tough to swallow, but it is just the nature of the beast right now. If there is a way to improve lead times on any item we produce, trust me, we are looking into it!
How has Rolled Threads sales approach changed over the last few years?
There is no substitute for the traditional face-to-face visits with customers. It is the best way to put a personal touch on relationships with our customers. Obviously, over the last 18 months we have had to adapt to a new approach to increase sales and strengthen customer relations. Well before COVID-19, we had started to change our focus on how to attract new customers. We have drawn back from exhibiting at trade shows and put those dollars into online marketing and advertising campaigns, which have been very successful. Digital advertising can be incredibly targeted – down to specific regions and industries. Due to that we are able to present Rolled Threads Unlimited to the exact type of potential customers we are looking for.
With nearly 600 unique customers, there isn’t enough time in the day to visit everyone, so we have also improved our communication with active customers digitally with quarterly newsletters, monthly blogs, and social media posts to keep them informed with what is new at Rolled Threads Unlimited.
Tell us something that others may not know about you, professionally or personally or both.
Before joining the manufacturing world, I spent eight years working for the Texas Golf Association. I ran a Tour for the state’s elite junior players (Jordan Spieth, Justin Thomas, Scottie Scheffler, and Will Zalatoris all came through the Tour during my time). I also spent four seasons doing some side work for the Dallas Cowboys as one of the guys who runs those giant flags across the field after touchdowns – which was a ton of fun. I also spent four years as a high school basketball official in Milwaukee prior to injuries which brought that to an end. Now I spend most of my free time golfing and taking care of my bulldog puppy, Drago.
What book are you currently reading…or is collecting dust on your night stand?
I’m a huge fan of Quentin Tarantino movies, so right now I am reading his novella Once Upon A Time In Hollywood, which expands on his recent movie of the same name.