Pros
Although the metal supply business is a very competitive industry revolving around commodity pricing, I believe Ryerson is taking innovative steps to differentiate itself from its competition and create a company that is customer-focused with an emphasis on quality in all areas. For employees that share and will work toward this vision there are many opportunities for advancement emerging every day. Senior management is committed to taking on new and creative initiatives to set Ryerson apart; the things happening at Ryerson right now to drive this transformation are not being done anywhere else in the metal industry. Rarely have I seen management that is more devoted to reinventing a company and transforming a corporate culture for the better than Ryerson’s management is. It is an exciting time to be at Ryerson! This change is a daunting task as there is a complacent attitude that continues to permeate the metal industry as a whole…..and a change will not happen overnight. This is brand new ground and there is no playbook to follow. Even within Ryerson there is a little resistance to the company’s strategy - as you may read in some comments on this website. However, Ryerson is doing what is required to be successful in making the necessary changes to be the best metal distributor in the industry; changes that, from my perspective, are truly astounding. For instance, numerous metal suppliers give lip service to the idea that customer service is critical, but take no action to ensure that exceptional customer service is what is provided to its customers on a daily basis. Ryerson has dedicated staff and resources to provide ongoing coaching and training to its sales reps by recording calls and dedicating time of their local managers to sit down one on one with their reps, listening to calls give specific personalized direction to be more successful. When Ryerson’s reps are more successful, the company as a whole is more successful. It also ensures Ryerson’s goal in giving the premier customer service experience in the industry. This transformation is not going to happen overnight, but with management’s continued clear direction and the processes and resources they have already put place, it is attainable.
Cons
The pace of change can be uneven at times.
