Brownsville Plant Recognized with Excellence Award

Rich’s Brownsville, Texas plant was recently honored with a Performance Excellence Award from the Texas Manufacturing Assistance Center (TMAC) of The University of Texas-Pan American.

U.S. Rep. Blake Farenthold, of Texas’ 27th District, presented the award to Mike Heggie, plant manager of Rich’s Brownsville facility.

The TMAC Performance Excellence Award recognized Rich’s for its leadership and contribution toward increasing the competitiveness of manufacturing, through the company’s exhaustive efforts to maximize efficiencies and control costs.

In 2008, TMAC partnered with the Brownsville operation to provide several Rich’s associates with Six Sigma training and project implementation assistance, as part of Rich’s ongoing commitment to continuous business improvement.

Practiced today across a range of industries, Six Sigma is a systematic methodology that utilizes information and statistical analysis to measure and improve a company's operational performance, practices and systems by identifying and preventing “defects” in manufacturing and service-related processes.

Rich’s Brownsville personnel have used their new Six Sigma tools to help reduce costs and increase efficiency at the plant, which produces a variety of seafood products under the SeaPak brand.

“I am pleased to know that the TMAC program works with manufacturers to increase their ability to produce and compete...” said Rep. Farenthold. “It is with great pleasure that we see South Texas, Rich Products and TMAC focused on maintaining jobs in the United States.”

“Rich’s is very proud to be partners with TMAC and The University of Texas, and we’re honored to receive this award,” said Heggie. “This skills training and development program is another demonstration of our company’s belief in investing in our associates and our communities. It also has enhanced our competitiveness in the marketplace. Rich’s has built a strong foundation here in South Texas, helped by the state’s pro-growth, business-friendly environment.”