INTERVIEW: DAVIDWHITE
14
ACCESS, LIFT&HANDLERS
APRIL-MAY 2014
MECAerial Work Platforms has transitioned from being a
typical AWP producer into a unique solutions provider.
Lindsey Anderson
spoke recentlywithPresident
DavidWhite
about hismanagement philosophy and future company plans.
time at UpRight. For themost part, engineering
is a process of problem solving and applying
technical solutions. Essentially, that is
alsowhat business is all about: evaluating
problems, identifying opportunities and
determining solutions that are consistent with
the goals of the business. My experiencewith
UpRight gaveme a number of insightswhich
have been helpful. For example, we do not
have a vertically integratedmanufacturing
operationwhich reduces debt and allows us
greater flexibility.
ALH
:
Howwould you describe your business
andmanagement philosophies?
White:
I believe it is important to approach
business andmanagement systematically
by understanding the facts, then establish
a direction to achieve the desired outcome
or result, measure the results andmake
adjustments. It is definitely not an emotional
style and probablywhat most peoplewould
expect from someonewith an engineering
background - systematic.
ALH
:
What are a few of the biggest
challenges you have faced as President of
MEC and howwere they overcome?
White:
Certainly the biggest challengewas
faced in 2008with the economic crisis. Up
until that point, our business strategywas to
simply expand the product line and grow the
businesswith a “premium product” strategy.
Facedwith the economic crisis, it would have
been difficult to survivewith that strategy.
Wewould have little to offer our customers in
amarket with excess products and falling
prices. Price became the driver of the few
focus atMEC for the short term – and for
the long term?
DavidWhite:
Our focus for the short term
is tomanage our rapid growth. Specifically,
this iswith our core productswhich are 4069
Crossovers and the Speed Level Sigma Lift,
and now, this year, the 6092RT scissor. We’ve
seen the fastest growth rates in these product
ranges. We saw significant growth last year
and nowwe are trying tomanage that growth
rate. We have a fixed capacity plan that’s
increased over our production volume of last
year but at limited growth sowe canmanage
that growth. For the long term, our focus is to
build on our strengths – continue to grow our
businesswith unique specialty products.
ALH
:
You joinedMEC in 2005 as an
engineeringmanager after spending
many years as senior VP of engineering
at UpRight; how have these roles shaped
your outlook forMEC engineering and
production?What have you taken from
those positions and implemented into your
current role as President?
White:
As you know, my background is in
engineering and I also had responsibility for
manufacturing operations for some period of
D
avidWhite has long been a problem
solver. With a number of years
previously under his belt as senior vice
president of engineering for UpRight, White
joinedMEC in 2005 as an engineeringmanager
andwas appointed president in 2007. Shortly
thereafter, Whiteweathered the shattering
economic downfall, which, in turn, became a
slight silver lining for the company.
In the years since, MEC has produced
some of themost head-turning products the
industry has seen in recent times, including
the Crossover series and Titan units. MEC also
debuted amaterial-handling-capable scissor
lift, and, most recently, a 60-foot rough terrain
scissor to competewith similarmodels.
But they’re not stopping there. White says
MEC’s focus is to increase the value of the
company –which can be achieved in a number
of ways.
ALH
spokewithWhite in early Spring
and here’swhat he had to say.
ALH
:
MEC originally started as a scissor lift
manufacturer in the 1970s and itwasn’t
until EPW came into the picture in 2002 that
your company looked at theAWP side of
the business. Now, we have the Titan and
60-foot RT scissors.Whatwill be yourmain
Innovative
engineering
A variety ofMEC products at the
company’s Californiamanufacturing facility.
DavidWhite, president of
MECAerial Work Platforms.
