A Legacy of Leadership at Torrance: The Keys to Quality and Teamwork

As Logistics Supervisor at AmSty's Torrance, California, polystyrene plant, Jesse Arroyo makes sure each member of the team does everything that needs to get done – the right way – to supply the plant with raw materials and provide valued customers with high-quality polystyrene.

AmSty, with six plants in the U.S. and one in Cartagena, Colombia, is proud to be the leading U.S. producer of certified recycled polystyrene, a versatile plastic that can be recycled over and over again. It plays an important role in food packaging, large appliances, construction, medical supplies and more.

"Our guys are the last ones to touch it before it gets to our customers, so it's important to follow all procedures and effectively troubleshoot any issues along the way," said Arroyo, who has been at the Torrance plant for 24 years and in his current role the past two.

"Ultimately, I encourage the team to have a positive attitude, take pride in their work, be mindful of what they're doing and be respectful of one another."

He also fosters an environment where doing it "right" is more important than doing it "rushed."

Communication is key to being productive, he said, especially having team members relaying information at shift changes to the incoming crew and more formal communication from Arroyo and others via email to keep things on track and running smoothly.

Setting clear expectations about the job for new hires is vital, too, he said.

'I'm very clear about the demands of a plant where the work never stops," said Arroyo. "Shift work is demanding and requires some sacrifices."

Coming up on a quarter century, Arroyo feels right at home and loves the relationships he's forged at Torrance.

"We feel very united. It's like family," he said, who is grateful for the many friendships he's forged over the years.

And he's appreciative of the opportunity to work with a multigenerational workforce. A 20-something himself when he started and now a veteran of the business, he can say he's "been there, done that," leveraging his experience to relate to team members at every step of their journey.