Summer 2000

Joe Haniford - Distinguished Young Alumni

Joe Haniford can relate easily to Rose-Hulman's goal to be the best. Haniford is motivated by a similar goal in his job as manufacturing manager for Alcoa, Inc.
"Rose-Hulman and Alcoa have the same vision to be number one compared to similar organizations. At Alcoa, we're challenged to achieve difficult goals, and so is the Rose-Hulman community," he explained.

"Neither Alcoa nor Rose-Hulman have become complacent as a result of their continued successes," Haniford noted. "Both
organizations are willing to change to become better."

A 20-year career with Alcoa wasn't what Haniford anticipated when he graduated from Rose-Hulman in 1980 with a degree in
mechanical engineering.

"I've been given a lot of opportunities in engineering, management and international experience," Haniford stated.  "The company's core values that stress safety, creating value for the customer and integrity are a key reason why I've remained with Alcoa. I'm proud that employees I work with have been instrumental in Alcoa achieving its goal to be number one in safety performance," he noted.

Haniford overseas manufacturing facilities in Alcoa, Tenn., and Warrick Operations near Evansville, Ind. The plants produce primary aluminum and aluminum sheet for the beverage and food can markets. His earlier experience at the Warrick Operations plant included recycling superintendent, coated products manager, cold mill manager and finishing manager.

It was advice from long-time Rose-Hulman mechanical engineering professor Irv Hooper that helped Haniford decide to accept Alcoa's job offer his senior year.
"Professor Hooper taught heat transfer and thermodynamics. I respected his knowledge about the engineering profession," Haniford said. "He told me Alcoa was a good company for an engineer. He was right."

The major challenges facing Haniford in his managerial role include environmental and health and safety issues. "Despite our excellent record, we're always improving our risk prevention programs," said the Veedersburg, Ind. native.

Increasing customer expectations challenge Haniford's production staffs. "We must add value to the customer's business not simply meet their needs," he says.
Prior to his current assignment, Haniford was general manager of Alcoa's plant in Kaal, Australia, a suburb of Sydney. The plant was a joint venture between Alcoa and Japanese-owned Kobe Steel.

Describing his international experience as invaluable, Haniford said the most important lesson he learned was about the value of diversity.  "Nearly 40 different nationalities were represented among the 380 employees at the plant," he recalled. "The Japanese brought an elegant simplicity to problem solving that I hadn't previously experienced."
His experiences in Australia made Haniford recall the importance of his non-engineering courses. "I'm grateful for the insight I learned from professor Thad Smith. He taught me that I would have to compete in a global workplace," said Haniford, who earned a minor in political science.

Despite the increasing demands of his job, Haniford believes that maintaining a balance between work, family and community commitments is critical if a technical manager is to be successful.

His family includes wife Alison, 15-year-old son Lee and 6-year-old Laura.  A former all-conference offensive lineman for the Engineers football team, Haniford has used part of his leisure time to coach youth basketball, football and baseball teams. He's also been a volunteer for the United Way and an elder and trustee of his church.  Haniford remembers Rose-Hulman as a caring community. "Everyone wanted students to succeed," he recalled. "Faculty and staff like Ron Reeves were always available to listen and give me a boost when I was having a bad day."

Now, Haniford is involved in a similar kind of task. He's helping employees be successful so that Alcoa can achieve its goal to be the best.
-- by David Piker