Alex
Material handler, Alex Atlee says his job feels like a high stakes version of a video game.
“It’s like playing Tetris,” he says. “We’re stacking boxes with as many items as we can, with as little height as possible. I tell the pickers to look at it like a game. It’s easier, faster and more fun that way.”
Atlee works 2nd shift at Rust-Oleum’s Distribution Center in Kenosha, Wisconsin. He’s one of more than 200 employees at the 950,000 square foot facility. The 25-year-old Kenosha native, earned a bachelor’s degree in Facility Management at the University of Wisconsin – Parkside and started at Rust-Oleum in 2019.
His job is to make sure product orders are picked, put on palettes and loaded into waiting semi-trailers. The goal is to make zero mistakes. That’s not easy considering he’s dealing with more than 30,000 individual cartons on a typical day.
“Mistakes can be costly,” Atlee explained. “We can get fined as much as $5,000 if even one of the orders is picked incorrectly.”
Accurate orders are key to maintaining solid relationships with our customers. The importance isn’t lost on Atlee.
“Building trust with our customers is critical,” he said. “On-time, error-free deliveries build confidence.”
A multi-sport athlete in college, Atlee brings that competitive spirit to his job.
“If you’re not all-in, this place isn’t for you. Just showing up doesn’t cut it,” he said. “I need to know that what’s getting shipped out is 100 percent correct because my name is on that order. It has to be right.”
“It’s like playing Tetris,” he says. “We’re stacking boxes with as many items as we can, with as little height as possible. I tell the pickers to look at it like a game. It’s easier, faster and more fun that way.”
Atlee works 2nd shift at Rust-Oleum’s Distribution Center in Kenosha, Wisconsin. He’s one of more than 200 employees at the 950,000 square foot facility. The 25-year-old Kenosha native, earned a bachelor’s degree in Facility Management at the University of Wisconsin – Parkside and started at Rust-Oleum in 2019.
His job is to make sure product orders are picked, put on palettes and loaded into waiting semi-trailers. The goal is to make zero mistakes. That’s not easy considering he’s dealing with more than 30,000 individual cartons on a typical day.
“Mistakes can be costly,” Atlee explained. “We can get fined as much as $5,000 if even one of the orders is picked incorrectly.”
Accurate orders are key to maintaining solid relationships with our customers. The importance isn’t lost on Atlee.
“Building trust with our customers is critical,” he said. “On-time, error-free deliveries build confidence.”
A multi-sport athlete in college, Atlee brings that competitive spirit to his job.
“If you’re not all-in, this place isn’t for you. Just showing up doesn’t cut it,” he said. “I need to know that what’s getting shipped out is 100 percent correct because my name is on that order. It has to be right.”
Crystal
It’s 3 a.m. and an endless parade of cans are whizzing by. Working on an aerosol line that moves nearly 200,000 units during her 12-hour shift, Crystal Osborn says her job is a “character builder.”
Osborn, a machine operator, has been with the company for two years and embraces the challenges of working on one of the fastest filling lines in the industry.
“Depending on what kind of label we’re applying and where it’s getting placed, it can be a tough.” she explained. “The height has to be just right and you have to play with it to make sure it’s wrinkle free. It’s really a process.”
She works the overnight shift at Rust-Oleum’s manufacturing facility in Pleasant Prairie, Wisconsin. The night shift isn’t for everybody but it works out well for this mom of three teens.
“I actually like nights better than days,” she said. “I’m sleeping while my kids are in school and am up when they’re home. I see them for more hours than if I worked days.”
Working long nights under the pressure of production deadlines can put stress on the team but Osborn takes it in stride.
“We’re competitive out on the floor, I’m not gonna lie,” she said with a smile. “But in the end, we all have each other’s backs. It’s not like you do your job and leave. It’s a total team effort. We all feel that way.”
Osborn, a machine operator, has been with the company for two years and embraces the challenges of working on one of the fastest filling lines in the industry.
“Depending on what kind of label we’re applying and where it’s getting placed, it can be a tough.” she explained. “The height has to be just right and you have to play with it to make sure it’s wrinkle free. It’s really a process.”
She works the overnight shift at Rust-Oleum’s manufacturing facility in Pleasant Prairie, Wisconsin. The night shift isn’t for everybody but it works out well for this mom of three teens.
“I actually like nights better than days,” she said. “I’m sleeping while my kids are in school and am up when they’re home. I see them for more hours than if I worked days.”
Working long nights under the pressure of production deadlines can put stress on the team but Osborn takes it in stride.
“We’re competitive out on the floor, I’m not gonna lie,” she said with a smile. “But in the end, we all have each other’s backs. It’s not like you do your job and leave. It’s a total team effort. We all feel that way.”
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