MRO Today - Munoz is a plant-floor general

Munoz is a plant-floor general

by Paul V. Arnold

A baseball player who can do it all (hit for average, hit for power, and excel at base-running, fielding and throwing) is referred to as a five-tool player.

At Republic Windows & Doors, such a team player is known as a five-star general. These employees are trained and certified to run any and all processes on a given production line.

On the glass line, Eladio Munoz is one of those generals. Munoz has been honing his multitude of skills since coming to Republic as a rookie in 1974.

“Whatever they need and wherever they need me, I’m there to do that,” says Munoz, who also is a steward for Local 16 of the Metal Processors, Fabricators and Finishers union. “In the morning when I get here, the supervisor lets me know what’s needed for that day. If a big order needs to get out, I might be doing one thing. If someone is out that day and they need a replacement, I shift over and do that job. It’s something different from day to day.”

While Munoz is one of Republic’s veteran stars, he’s always out to improve his game.

“I never mind when someone says, ‘You have experience, but you could do this a little differently,’” he says. “That is looking out for our best interests.”