2023 Milliken Honors - Production Hero Award Winner - Lamond Gilliam

The Production Hero Award, an annual Milliken Honors recognition, is presented to the production associate who goes above and beyond in their role while supporting operational performance and meeting Milliken's values.   

Lamond Gilliam, Production Supervisor, has excelled at every job assignment in his career, from operator to quality facilitator to supervisor. He has spent most of his 21-year Milliken career in Live Oak’s Tile Print department for the floor covering business and has developed the technical expertise to prove it. 

Few people understand and operate Millitron, Milliken’s proprietary carpet dye injection machine, as well as he does. Any time a process change needs to be made in the Tile Print department, Lamond is sought after for his expertise and advice to avoid unintended consequences.

Maximizing efficiency and productivity is often a key goal in manufacturing. A production hero would find ways to streamline processes, reduce waste, and increase output without compromising quality.  Lamond exceeds all expectations and excels at identifying and resolving issues to keep production running smoothly.

“Thanks to Lamond, the Live Oak production team set various records. Safety engagement reached an all-time high, with zero recordable incidents. Productivity increased 10 percent from the last calendar year, and on-time product shipments had the best performance in the last decade,” said Susan Bowell, Senior Production Manager at Live Oak. “Lamond does a remarkable job balancing his workload, high customer demand, associate hours, and preventing turnover.”

From leading a team of about 25 colleagues, Lamond understands that people are at the center of his processes. He consistently motivates them to meet safety, quality, and production goals. He takes care of his associates, understands their value, and develops interpersonal relationships with his teammates, learning about their families, hobbies, and interests.

Lamond’s precise attention to detail, adaptability, excellent communication skills, and work ethic all go to show he has earned the 2023 Milliken Honors: Production Associate recognition. Thank you, Lamond, for your dedication to Milliken and the Live Oak plant. We’re grateful to have team members that go the extra mile!