faces of the frontline: manufacturing’s all stars

You may not give much thought to the bacon on your breakfast table, but Christian Terreforte-Rivera does. As a foreman at the bustling Cloverdale Foods facility in Mandan, North Dakota, Christian has been instrumental in transforming the bacon value stream and doubling weekly production. Additionally, his unwavering commitment and humble leadership have helped reinforce a culture of collaboration and continuous improvement, spreading to his team and the overall operation.

Operational Efficiency, Growth, and Improvement

Christian believes in a “hands-on” approach at work. Each morning, he checks the temperature of the bacon cooler and addresses any issues immediately to ensure that the production process runs smoothly. “First thing in the morning, he went through the cooler to check the temp of the bacon,” says his supervisor, Profina Desaya. “I’m not here yet at that time. So he’s looking at the temp and fixing it right away.” His attention to maintaining the correct temperature helps operators achieve high-quality slices and yield and directly impacts overall efficiency and product consistency.

He’s dedicated to doing things correctly the first time. By minimizing the need for rework and saving valuable time and resources, he’s contributed to the team’s ability to meet and exceed goals. For example, after his managers attended Pack Expo and heard stories about what other companies did with Redzone, they set a stretch goal of a 7% increase in overall equipment effectiveness (OEE). Christian embraced Redzone and the goal, and within a few months, he and his team were hitting the goal consistently. 

Christian also encourages his team to collaborate and innovate by embracing new ideas and continuously seeking better ways of working. His leadership has not only driven significant improvements in production metrics but has also inspired a shared sense of purpose and commitment. 

A remarkable result of Christian’s efforts is the growth within the bacon value stream. With his leadership and encouragement, the team reached a significant milestone by increasing production from less than 300,000 pounds to over 600,000 pounds weekly. What’s really impressive is that this feat came through optimizing practices, not significant capital investment or new infrastructure. 

“We’re stretching the limits of all of the capabilities that we do have, be it space, chilling capacity, or any of these things,” says Industrial Engineer Justin Brotzler. “It’s just so impressive that this team has been able to manage their way through this growth without spending millions and millions of dollars on new equipment.”

A Knack for Proactive Problem-Solving

Christian, like many successful frontline workers, has a knack for proactively solving problems, which has significantly enhanced the efficiency and effectiveness of his team. Beyond his routine morning cooler checks, Christian also looks for potential issues and addresses them before they escalate. 

For instance, one weekend the line was shut down for maintenance, and Christian stepped in on his day off to fix the air chillers. Another time, there weren’t enough people to run the press on a Saturday, so he came in to do the intense, physical job of pressing bacon. “Even on a day off, even when we do trip into Saturdays fairly often, he still has enough ownership to want to come up and to make sure that everything is set up,” says Brotzler.

He also focuses on long-term improvements, constantly analyzing and refining processes, which leads to solutions that prevent recurring issues. This forward-thinking mindset has led to substantial improvements in the production process. Christian’s ability to anticipate and address challenges swiftly ensures that the production environment remains productive, reinforcing his role as a vital asset to the organization.

Leadership, Team Support, and Balance

Christian’s leadership and dedication to team support have profoundly impacted the workplace culture and overall morale at his facility. He’s known for his humility and fairness and consistently puts his team first. His leadership style is characterized by his hands-on approach and a deep commitment to the well-being of his colleagues. When Christian is around, everyone feels valued and supported.

One of his significant contributions is enhancing work-life balance for his team and supervisors. Because Christian is so proactive and reliable, his supervisor, Fina, can start her day later because she knows that Christian has already addressed any early morning issues. This shift has improved Fina’s work environment while also demonstrating Christian’s trustworthiness and dependability. 

Christian’s dedication maintains a high level of trust and dependability within the facility, even during periods when key personnel are on leave, Christian steps up without hesitation, ensuring smooth operations and addressing any arising issues. Now that his supervisors don’t have to worry about routine checks or problems, “we’re allowed to work on bigger things and expand our knowledge and learn more,” says Myles VanCleave, Value Stream Manager.

Building a Culture of Recognition and Celebration

Recognition is an important part of factory life, and Christian has played a pivotal role in cultivating a culture of recognition and celebration at the Cloverdale facility. Understanding the importance of acknowledging hard work and achievements, Christian has been instrumental in promoting practices that celebrate the successes and milestones of his team.

He has helped shift the culture from a top-down approach to one where recognition is woven into the daily fabric of the workplace. Teams now organically celebrate their successes, whether it’s reaching production goals or personal milestones like birthdays. “A lot of it is the teams celebrating with each other, the teams celebrating for each other,” says Brotzler. “It’s just an amazing culture. You can’t be more proud.” 

Christian encourages his colleagues to celebrate each other’s accomplishments. This peer-to-peer recognition is a testament to the positive, team-oriented culture that Christian has helped build, where successes are shared and celebrated collectively. Additionally, Cloverdale has introduced various forms of recognition, from food trucks and gift cards to social media shoutouts and employee of the month features. These initiatives not only boost morale but also reinforce the value of each team member’s contributions, making them feel appreciated and motivated.

All-Around Influencer

Christian’s dedication to leadership, operational efficiency, and celebration beyond the immediate team to include the entire facility. He helps every employee feel seen and valued, contributing to a positive work environment where people are excited to come to work and give their best.

He’s helped Cloverdale build a workplace where employees feel secure, valued, and motivated, and his dedication to operational success will continue to serve the company for years to come.

Want to know more? Read about Christian and our previous Faces of the Frontline, and read more stories in our ebook.