“When I first started Atomatic Manufacturing Company, I felt that a 100-man shop would be about as large as I would want it to be. I set that parameter at the outset, and I still hold to it. If my business were larger, it would be difficult to control, and I would lose contact with my employees and the satisfaction of knowing everyone in the plant.”
These are Alexander T. Kindling’s own words, taken from a recent article of his in the S.A.M. Advanced Management Journal. They reveal the very strong interest Kindling has in people: his employees, his customers, and the public at large.
Kindling has been active in S.A.M. for many years, serving as the president of the Pittsburgh Chapter and holding several international-level offices. Recently the S.A.M. Board of Directors voted Kindling president-elect of S.A.M., meaning that he will succeed Dr. William Kirby, Jr., current president, in the summer of 1977.
Besides his work with S.A.M., Kindling has also been a major force in the highly successful Smaller Manufacturers Council of Pittsburgh, an organization of 700 companies (with over 70,000 employees), which banded together to pool their talents, increase their political clout, and improve their business bargaining positions. After serving 12 years on the SMC board of directors, he was recently selected to become president of the group. (His terms as president of S.A.M. and SMC will not overlap.)
As might be expected, Kindling believes that businesses have a social responsibility to try to improve the condition of the communities of which they are a part. “However,” he adds, “the first responsibility of any company is to stay in business and earn a profit. Let’s not forget that employees are part of the community too. If a company falters or goes out of business, those employees who lose their jobs may become burdens to the community; that’s why it is important for a business to remain strong.”
S.A.M. is one of the most important of the several organizations in Kindling’s life. “If a small businessman limits his exposure just to other small businessmen, he misses the very important input that S.A.M. can provide the input of different viewpoints and ideas and the broader outlooks that only managers in larger companies can provide.” Kindling summarizes his attitude toward business and management by stating, “My business is my career. There’s a lot of romance still connected with running a business, particularly a small business, and one fact stands out: Your career hinges on how well you manage.” SAM-NI
This SAM News International article is from our historical archive, information provided is for reference and archival research about the activities and developments of the Society.