INPERSON
Michael Field is president and CEO for The Raymond Corp., where he has worked since
2004. Field has a background in engineering and holds 35 patents. Raymond is part of
Toyota Material Handling North America (TMHNA), and Field serves on the TMHNA
executive team. He is a graduate of the Rochester Institute of Technology and has an MBA
and a Master of Science degree in manufacturing engineering from Boston University.
Michael Field of
The Raymond Corp.
tive training tools, like Raymond’s Virtual
Reality Simulator, as well as telematics and
intelligent solutions to inform customers
about how to use their forklifts efficiently.
Q: CAN YOU SHARE ABOUT ANY PROJECTS
RAYMOND IS WORKING ON?
A: We see energy playing a significant
role in both enabling warehousing and
distribution and in helping to manage the
cost structure for energy by using renewable resources to power forklifts. In 2019,
Raymond partnered with Binghamton
University and NYSERDA [New York
State Energy Research and Development
Authority] to develop and demonstrate a
new energy-storage process and solution
for warehouse energy management. The
solution employs solar panels, a stationary
energy-storage system, and lithium-ion
forklift batteries to reduce energy costs for
warehouse owners.
Q: WHAT KIND OF JOINT DEVELOPMENT PROJ-
ECTS ARE YOU PURSUING WITH YOUR SISTER
COMPANIES IN TOYOTA?
A: Our Greene, New York-based team
designs and manufactures products for
both the Raymond and Toyota brands
for North America. We also have a global
advisory board across all companies to
share key learnings and innovation. All
subsidiaries of Toyota also share the TPS
[Toyota Production System]-based lean
management DNA as we create customer
solutions. n
Q: HOW DO YOU VIEW THE CURRENT STATE OF
THE LIFT-TRUCK INDUSTRY?
A: The dramatic shift in how people purchase and receive goods through e-commerce has shaken the long-standing foundation and business model of warehousing and distribution. This shift in our customers’ needs has encouraged Raymond
to become a full-service warehouse solutions provider. We’re also using the lens
of lean management to try to identify
opportunities for improvement and then
deliver those solutions with the latest
technology and innovation.
Q: YOU HAVE AN ENGINEERING BACKGROUND. WHAT BENEFITS
DOES THAT BRING IN MANAGING A COMPANY WHERE DESIGN
AND ENGINEERING ARE SO IMPORTANT?
A: I’m fortunate that my current role allows me to utilize both my engineering and business backgrounds. As
an engineer, I’m naturally inquisitive about the details
behind innovation, quality, and service, and understanding how we can deliver on those three brand principles as a
corporation. It’s my job to lead the company in a way
that encourages our employees to understand the basis of
our customers’ problems and come up with innovative
solutions.
Q: WHAT ROLE WILL INFORMATION AND TELEMATICS PLAY IN
THE FUTURE OF LIFT-TRUCK DESIGN?
A: I believe that innovative technologies and intralogis-tics solutions will continue to empower the workforce of
the future to meet customer demands. Over the past 10
years, e-commerce pressures to ship products faster have
increased the need for companies to optimize efficiency.
To meet this demand, organizations will seek interac-
In our continuing series
of discussions with top
supply-chain company
executives, Michael Field
discusses innovations in
power technologies, lean
manufacturing, and the
future of lift-truck design.
