Not many people can truly claim to have become a legend in their own time, but Henry J. Kaiser could. Kaiser was passionate, focused, and driven. He started several businesses; the term “serial entrepreneur” had not yet been coined, but it described Henry J. well.
Kaiser Aluminum, one of the most enduring companies he built, is no less remarkable. The company grew from a wide-ranging producer of aluminum products to a specialty provider of materials for the automotive, aerospace, and industrial markets. Along the way, Kaiser Aluminum overcame hostile takeover attempts, union strikes—even bankruptcy.
Yet the pride in the company remained. The desire for excellence never waned. Employees and leaders alike wanted better for the company. Customers continued doing business with Kaiser. Everyone pulled together—not right away, not easily, and not smoothly. But one by one, Kaiser Aluminum confronted and conquered issues. Innovation and opportunity led to better business practices. Leaders took risks and did the hard tasks. The company turned around and gained momentum.
Soon Kaiser Aluminum thrived. Leadership was confident, employees believed in the company’s future, and vendors were happy to do business with Kaiser. Even investors saw strong growth. Now Kaiser is in a position to build on that growth, having anticipated market needs and prepared to meet them.
The need for dependable, high-quality aluminum will be great for quite some time. Kaiser is ready to meet that need, now and in the future. That is one reason why Kaiser Aluminum is Best in Class.
