| |
|
|
|
Corporate Information
History
|
|
|
|
 |
|
A Culture
of Quality, Innovation, Creation, and Right on Time Delivery
A&E has been in the business for over 115 years, surviving through
depressions, technological upheavals, and challenges from abroad to one of
the world's largest global manufacturer and distributor of industrial
sewing thread, embroidery thread, and technical textiles.
|
|
|
|
|
A&E began in 1891 on what
was known as Dutchman's Creek. A man by the name of Charles Egbert
Hutchison started the company with six investors and named it Nims
Manufacturing Company.
The company was
successful and in 1920 was consolidated, with some other textile
mills, into a new corporation known as American Yarn and
Processing Company.
In 1944, the company was
taken over by the Efird Manufacturing Company, founded by J.S. Efird.
After the 1952 merger
between Efird Manufacturing in Albemarle and American Yarn Processing, the
company name changed to American & Efird Mills, Inc. In 1968, the
diversified interests of R. S. Dickson combined to form the Ruddick
Corporation, a holding company, which became A&E's parent company. |
With
headquarters located in Charlotte, NC, Ruddick is listed on the New York
Stock Exchange and had a consolidated revenue of over $3 billion in fiscal
year 2006. Other Ruddick subsidiaries are
Harris Teeter, Inc.
and Ruddick Investment Company.
Since the days of water
wheels in the 1890's, A&E has greatly expanded its facilities and has
maintained pace with technological improvements. A&E was the first textile
company in NC to match colors by digital computer, automate the doffing
system on spinning frames, and computerize their dye machines. |
This innovative spirit
has continued in recent years with the introduction of new products that
have gained industry wide acceptance. A&E is one of the world's largest manufacturers of
thread and yarns for
apparel, non apparel,
embroidery, and
technical textile applications as well as for the
consumer distributor market.
Currently,
the A&E global supply network has 33 manufacturing centers and 56
service centers located within 50 countries. In recent years, A&E has
increased its
product offerings through the acquisitions of Ludlow®,
Robison-Anton®, and
Synthetic Thread, well known manufacturing companies of quality technical
textiles and embroidery yarns and thread.

Even today, A&E still
asserts its century-old commitment to its customers, producing
high quality
goods by embracing the principles of Total Quality
Management (TQM). These principles have produced a culture that
stimulates individual responsibility and
initiative. Such a culture enables us to be a product innovator, a
creator of consistent and reliable, high quality products, and a company
that delivers our comprehensive product line to its customers right on
time.
Note: Historical
information was taken from "American & Efird People, A Century
of Quality" by Ross Yockey, McMillan and Associates, 1991.
Copyright by American & Efird, Inc. |
|
|
|
| |
|
| |
Other Information |
| |
|
| |
 |
|
Corporate Information
From
the Company's beginning over 115 years ago, to its rise in
leadership... |
|
| |
|
| |
|
 |
|
Aim, Quality Policy, Action Plan
To be the preferred supplier of sewing thread and related products... |
|
| |
|
| |
|
 |
|
Customer Commitment
Customers provide our jobs. They, and only they, pay our wages &
benefits... |
|
| |
|
| |
|
 |
|
Total Quality Management
Customer Driven, Associate Involvement, Process Focused, & Management Leadership... |
|
| |
|
| |
|
 |
|
Environment
We
have established policies to safeguard the environment... |
|
| |
|
|