truck driver

production technician

maintenance technician

production lead

Central States Manufacturing, Inc.

No matter what a person does you can not advance from their basic job. All the people that started the same time I did were gone within a few months then it was my turn. Save all the documentation, notes , or any other backup (CYA) because you can and most likely will be blamed for all their mistakes and fired for it.

Find another job elsewhere. They really try to sell their retirement plan, the Employee Stock Option Plan,  that made their truck driver from 30 years ago a millionairelike you just hit the lottery winnings. That's really all they have. It's not really that impressive but they have obviously sold their souls and think we will believe them.. After you buy into it they are still in the process of paying back the family of the companies founder so I don't think it's all that great as they fix it on paper. 

They play people against each other by offering some other job that you can just take over because the guys doing the job might be really messed up one way or another (not true).

Most likely any other job will work better. You might also hear about how it all relates to s*xual harassment about once an hour , , haha

Cons , they are, backstabbing cutthroat culture, the ESOP plans seems just too good to be true if you are there 30 years(IF, IF, IF), "you are an owner of the company" and customer service is motivated by greed, sales team not honestly supported, low pay, no accountability in management, very poor local management on most all levels, dishonest, untrustworthy, unreliable team except for some of the newer guys, tools and lunch stolen, machines breaking down and unreliable, no lockers available and nowhere to put your coat, It is OK to do pain meds here as it is approved. their own metal building at the manufacturing planmt is a good example of very poor quality, lots of ROOF LEAKS

I am a Business Development Manager. AKA...Outside Sales Rep. I spend most of my time working on a list of justifiable reasons to travel to my territory. I travel, on average about every 3rd week, and spend a full week on the road. When on the road, I am either (1) closing a new business relationship, face-to-face, (2) growing business with an existing account (3) reviewing business with an existing account and having the open back-and-forth conversations that uncover opportunities to service them even better. I've learned at Central States Mfg that "drilling down" on a customer to really get a true understanding for what they value is hard work, but that's all, just hard work. We don't win on being the cheapest or on being the company with all the "freebies", or, the all powerful, relationship-is-all-that-matters type of sales tactics. We WIN by selling the company and matching what the customer values, with what we can do. It is a pure focus on the customer, but not a "we will do anything" approach. We are great at what we do and we are very careful about trying to do things outside of OUR norm. Not every prospect is a good match for CSMI, that is part of the BDM job. We don't blindly sell everyone...we are working towards good matches. Management is focused on "driving the boat" and has helped us keep a winning tradition year in/year out since we've been in existence. The legacy of those before us, creates a competitive culture to be excellent...and to find ways to be even better tomorrow, than we are today. This is a very tough environment for folks who want to just "ride the wave". Every employee owns this company. There is no "They" or "Them" or the mysterious leaders in the corner office somewhere that are tweeking our collective fate. It is Us and We...and we keep each other highly accountable to be excellent.

I gave an overall rating of 1 because that was the lowest ranking available. The management in this plant is awful. There is no communication between departments or support from management for the retail center. Central States is a manufacturing/distribution company that says they want to be in retail. As an outside sales rep, you will be put in direct competition with CSM distributors. Your territory is restricted as is your advertising. Do noe expect any training, coaching or support from upper management for Metal Central. Prepare for 60 hr work week.

Work/Life Balance got a 2 because there is vacation time and holidays off.

Compensation got a 3 as it is acceptable.

Job security gets a 1 because there is none. They have had 5 managers in 7 years. You will be in direct competition with the manufacturing plant for space and time. You will lose.

Management gets a 1 because that is the lowest rating choice. Management knows nothing about retail; How to do market analysis, segmenting, targeting, positioning, forecasting; nada... nothing... but they do set your goals with no input from you.

Job Culture again got a 1 because that was the lowest rating choice. They promise to treat everyone with integrity, honesty and accountability. They can throw that in the garbage. The culture there is awful.

So, if you want to be humiliated, belittled, talked down to and work 60 hours a week, this may be the ideal job for you. This review is in the context of Metal Central only.

I would like to end with something positive. I forged some great relationships with contractors in the area and with employees in the plant. God Bless Them.

When you get terminated, you will be asked to give them ideas on improving the operation. I reached out to executive management (Lowell) but obviously they had no interest as they ignored me.

What is the best part of working at the company?
Name recognition. Financial stability. 

What is the most stressful part about working at the company?
Severely understaffed in the Building Works division. Constant missed deadlines that affected sales. When these issues were brought to management, excuses were always made and I was told I was not “owning it”. How can I own it when it’s out of my control and nobody else will help? Was told to prepare an extensive report that would take hours to complete late on a Friday before a leaving for a trade show the next week. I did not have time to complete due to customer obligations and the trade show. This was communicated but I was told I should have worked on it all weekend. Was told to complete by the following Monday, which I did, but was let go that morning, basically intentionally forcing me to waste a weekend. 

They do not understand the market they are in and expect immediate sales on complex building projects. Customers also reflect this frustration and are dropping like flies. 

I feel like the Building Works division is a sinking ship. Glad I’m out. 

What is the work environment and culture like at the company?
Tries to portray an “Act in Love” environment, but is the exact opposite. 

What is a typical day like for you at the company?
Constant pointless meetings about KPIs.

I feel that central states building works bosses were to focused on having others take care of the work then leading and guiding those who were doing the work in the work or task at hand. I feel the repremanded any that failed or had a voice of their own. I feel the way they spoke in front of higher ups was professional until the left. I saw and witness many times where the higher ups had just made us do something even if it wasn't safe only when the head plant president walked in did they have any suggestions about safety. I believe they didn't want to look bad having been a new building opening up that they wantted to protect their image no matter how many hard working dedicated individuals they had to step on to keep that image. I feel central states building works has a lot more going on behind the scenes they fret to keep to themselves. I feel they take advantage of their employees bye sugar coating the job expectations. Yes it was a learning experience but it was like everyday things were either understaffed and expectations were too high for a company that is understaffed. God forbid anyone had anything to say.

Top Job Titles	Average Salary
Truck driver 162 salaries reported	$1,586 per week
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Maintenance technician 8 salaries reported	$26.89 per hour
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