Meet the Maker Carl Williams

At Milliken, the dedication and expertise of our associates form the foundation of our success. We’re spotlighting the resilient individuals behind our products, who carry forward a proud history of excellence and commitment in manufacturing. Today, we highlight Carl Williams at the Live Oak Plant in LaGrange, Georgia. Nominated by colleague Joshua Culbertson, Carl's journey from distribution associate to Control Equipment Technician (CET) exemplifies hard work, dedication, and a passion for innovation.

A Legacy of Dedication

Carl Williams’s journey with Milliken began in 2008 through a temporary service. "I started in our minding department, which was upgrading carpet. From there, I transferred to our distribution area, driving the forklift and shipping carpet. I worked my way up to Team Lead in distribution," Carl recalls.

His path didn't stop there. "I came into the shop where I started with basic mechanics on the PM crew. Then I worked up to plant-wide troubleshooter CET role, which is the Control Equipment Technician. Now, I lead the Echo Print department where I train and support my team to keep all the machines running smoothly."

The People Behind the Success

Carl’s dedication to the Milliken team shines through in his interactions with colleagues. "The team that we have is one of the best teams I've ever worked with. We're all friends, and we hold each other up. If somebody is struggling, another person steps in. Maybe they have a better idea than what I have, and that's the way we work," he says.

Carl attributes much of his success to his mentor, Derrick Harris. "Derrick has helped me from day one. He's brought me from the bottom all the way to where I am now. He's taught me so much and pushed me to be the leader I am today. I'll take over his role when he retires in about four years," Carl shared. "He knows he's like a brother to me, and we're like family."

A Day in the Life

Carl's day starts with a focus on communication and reliability. "The first thing I do when I get into the plant is check in with the lead operators of the four ranges I oversee. I ask them about their night or day, if they need anything, and how I can help make their job better," Carl explains.

He then reviews downtime logs to identify any issues from the past 24 hours. "I pull up downtime logs and look at any problems we might have overlooked or can improve on. We go over process reliability, how well we're running versus equipment failures, and discuss ways to make things better and safer for the operators."

Carl’s favorite part of his day is the morning meeting. "That meeting gives me a lead way of how everything's going to go. We collaborate on production and engineering sides, discussing how we ran and what we could do better. It sets the tone for the day."

Ensuring Safety and Quality

Safety and quality are paramount in Carl's role. "Safety is our top priority. It doesn't matter what it takes; we always put safety first. If it takes an extra 10 minutes to be safe, do it," he emphasizes. Carl ensures that all equipment runs at the highest standards, contributing to the production of high-quality carpet tiles.

"It feels good at the end of the day that you know that you can actually make a product that you're proud of because that is one of the biggest things. You know, if you're proud of what you do, you can make it to the best of your ability, to the best that it can be. So, it feels really good at the end of the day that you know you can step back and say, "Hey, look, this is what I made." You know, you feel good about yourself."

A Pillar of the Community

Carl's influence extends beyond his technical expertise. His positive attitude and dedication to teamwork create a supportive and collaborative environment. "Milliken offers so much more than just a job. We have interactions day-to-day and a family atmosphere. The managers, production associates, and new PIs that come in straight out of college—everyone interacts like a family."

"I thank Milliken every day because my family has never missed a meal. They've always treated me like family, and they've always been good to me. So, without a shadow of a doubt, you know Milliken's like a family to me."

Join Us in Recognizing These Remarkable Individuals

Carl Williams’s 15 years of service are a remarkable achievement, reflecting his dedication, expertise, and commitment to his colleagues. We’re spotlighting Carl and all our associates who make Milliken an exceptional place to work. Their dedication and expertise are the foundation of our continued success.

As we continue to innovate and solve problems, driven by curiosity and collaboration, we invite you to join us in recognizing the incredible people behind our products. At Milliken, our associates are our greatest asset, and their stories inspire us to keep pursuing a better tomorrow.

To read more associate stories, visit here.

Want to join #TeamMilliken? Visit our careers webpage to learn more about your next opportunity.