Quaker Chemical Reviews

Pros

Shrinking market place and the company seems to be in the right place at the right time lately.Not perfect, but it is a company that is geared for people that can do on their own and don't need hand holding.

Cons

They are overly cautious and move slow.

Advice to Senior Management

Keep in touch with the sales force.Seem to be out of touch for long periods of time.

Pros

Exposure to and responsability for a wide variety of processes at customer facilities can be very interesting and challenging. Most times transfers are available from one customer site to another.

Cons

Management does not support its employees with customer conflicts or disagreements. Management often times is more interested in getting customers to sign contracts than actually fulfilling the terms of those contracts. Managers are mostly marketers of chemicals not actually service oriented (odd for a service industry). Career support is nonexistant.

Advice to Senior Management

Live up to your word and support your employees.

Pros

Good benefit packages for medical, education, and so on.
Ability to have flex hours makes it nice.

Cons

Management by the Good Old Boys Club.
Needs to overhaul some of the divisions to get some fresh ideas.
Do not utilize their employees to the fullest.

Advice to Senior Management

Really look at your review processes. How well do you really know your talent?

Pros

Leader in their field, excellent employees with a strong work ethic. People that work for Quaker outside of management have a very strong need to see the company succeed. A Company that will rebound once it cleans out current management and it gets through the current economic pressures.

Cons

Very thin organization, poor management and lack of understanding their industry. Not very versitile and relies on two basic industries (Auto, Steel) which are both suffering greatly. Technology is not a key element for either business since there are no real breakthroughs. This opens the door for competitive threat given the fact there is nothing special or unique.

Advice to Senior Management

Learn to listen to your employees, learn your industry. Your senior management is too young and inexperienced for the tough times you are facing