Sylvia Propps brings 25 years of experience in engineering and management to her new position as plant manager at 3M-Springfield. The Chicago native has built a career with the company that serves the adhesive needs of the construction, health care, automobile and aerospace industries. She holds a bachelor’s in chemical engineering from Stanford and a Master’s of Business Administration from the University of Phoenix.
Q: How did you come to accept the position of 3M plant manager, and how have you adjusted to the area? A: I’ve been at the Springfield plant for about three months. I’ve been at 3M about 25 years and … when the opportunity arose to be plant manager, I jumped at that. I was able to secure the job, and I’m happy to be here.
I was attracted to the area. The Springfield plant is a very important plant within the 3M system. There are a lot of opportunities here, but also, in the area, from what I’ve heard, there’s a lot to do here. There are lots of lakes and good weather – much better weather than in Minnesota. The people here, I’ve noticed, are very open to businesses and helping businesses to be successful. And the people here have been very productive and effective at their jobs, so it has been a great fit.
Q: What is it like to manage a facility of 270 employees? A: As the plant manager, I manage safety, quality service and productivity of the plant. For me, I really try to focus on the people and make sure we are utilizing our people the best we can.
Q: What does the plant produce daily, and who are its customers? A: At this facility, we make polyurethane sealants, liquid adhesives. We do have some coaters where we make tape, and most people are familiar with 3M tape. We make industrial tapes that are used in the aerospace industry, the automotive industry, and in furniture-making or artwork, construction and home building. You might see our products used to secure windows to buildings, glue down countertops or help assemble airplanes or automobiles.
Q: What are your goals in the new job? A: Safety is always our primary focus. And we want to focus on growing the business as much as we can. The company has approved investment in the Springfield facility to add polyurethane sealant capacity. This is currently being produced outside the U.S. in France. The facility there will remain open, but we will be taking on the additional work.
Q: Do you have any hobbies or causes outside of work that you are actively involved in? A: I’m not the fastest runner, but I do jog and participate in 5Ks or 10Ks periodically. I did volunteer work in Minnesota and was involved with a couple of different boards, and I’m looking forward to doing that here. I worked with Stone Soup. That was an organization that provides special-need items to families – everything that’s not a food item, things like furniture and clothing.
