Our Story

RC attended John H. Patterson Cooperative High School, a Dayton public school where students alternated on a two-weeks cycle between a job and school in the junior and senior year. As one of the top students in his drafting class, he worked as a junior draftsman and blueprint operator in Plant Engineering at General Motors Corporation. After graduating from high school, he continued as a college co-op working in various GM departments while pursuing an Industrial Engineering degree at the University of Cincinnati.  Once completing his degree, RC worked for McDonnell Douglas Corporation as a Pricing Analyst, where he attended a Total Quality Management training class from Dr. W. Edward Deming in 1985. The most important thing he learned from Dr. Deming was that "management was 80% of the problem with poor performing companies because management owns the system."  As a member of management, RC always wanted to be an improver of the business system.  That started his Global Excellence career journey with each position building on his knowledge and experience.

Caldwell & Associates LLC was founded on June 6, 2019 based on a virtual global team made up of Master Black Belts, Black Belts, and Lean Sensei that RC led while working at Johnson and Johnson.  Each member of his team had sufficient manufacturing and engineering experience with a technical or scientific degree.  One of his team's primary responsibilities was to solve "Critical Business Problems" at strategic suppliers throughout the Johnson and Johnson supply chain, including Consumer Products, Medical Devices, and Pharmaceutical suppliers.  Vice Presidents and Directors would call on my team to resolve Critical Business Problems at the supplier, such as:

1.)  Customer recalls or complaints caused by the supplier

2.)  Product backlog or capacity issues

3.)  New product launch delays

4.)  High numbers of quality rejects

A team member would contact the supplier and partner with their leadership team to inform them of our collaborative approach to solve their Critical Business Problem.  The team members had to determine the root cause and develop short-term and long-term solutions on the first visit.  The first visit to suppliers in the US, Mexico, and Canada was 3 to 4 days, and oversee was 5 to 10 days, depending on the problem's degree of difficulty.  Their work was done effectively and efficiently.  In most cases, his team members would lead the project management of both solutions to completion.  His team was like a "Special Forces Unit" to resolve Critical Business Problems within Johnson and Johnson supply chain. Now, RC is using the Special Forces business model at Caldwell & Associates to help our customers and their supply chain.

Contact us if you have operational or process problems or situations that you need solutions to yield better results.  Your first consultation is free.  We will provide you with answers that will lead to safe, productive, effective, and successful results.

Vision

To provide and transfer global excellence to our customers

Mission

Our mission is to continue learning and applying Global Excellence consulting, training, and coaching to improve our customer's organization and grow their market share.

Guiding Principles

Create Value for the Customer
Create Constancy of Purpose
Think Systemically
Assure Quality at the Source
Improve Flow and Pull
Seek Perfection
Embrace Scientific Thinking
Focus on Process
Respect Every Individual
Lead with Humility

Who we are:

We are a Christian company that provides and transfers excellence in consulting, training, coaching, and mentoring to our customers' employees.

“For we are co-workers in God’s service; you are God’s field, God’s building.”  – 1 Corinthians 3:9 NIV

“Whatever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might." – Ecclesiastes 9:10 NIV --  
Meaning - To give anything less than your best is to sacrifice your gift.

We will work smarter and harder for the best results for our customers, their employees, and their stockholders.  We will do it with integrity, effectiveness, efficiency, honesty, and respect for our customers, our associates, our global community, and the environment in everything we do.

The quest for power is selfish, but the quest for excellence is maturity. Excellence is aligned with GOD.

Christian Outreach

Caldwell & Associates donates to Christian Outreach and Fight Against Systemic Racism:

We are providing funding to St. Jude Research Children Hospital and Zion Global Ministries' Kenya Mission Building Projects. St. Jude Research Children Hospital is a leader in the treatment and defeat of childhood cancer.  As a cancer survivor, RC feels a deep concern and obligation to support St. Jude's effort to save children with cancer.  As an African American, he is committed to helping Africa and his youth's neighborhood. The Kenya Mission Building Project and Revitalizing Westwood One House at a Time are small steps in a long journey to uplift the global and local communities.

Fight Against Systemic Racism

Caldwell & Associates supports the Fight Against Systemic Racism, Black Lives Matter, and Anti-Asian Racism because we understand that it means equality and justice for everyone in the United States of America.  It is time for a change in America!  As part of our support, we plan to build an affordable starter home in the summer of 2022 in Westwood, a low-income African American neighborhood in Dayton, OH.  It is a neighborhood that has been left out of the federal opportunity zone, but we are trying to lead the way in revitalizing the community.  Mr. Byron Hodges, an African American Residential Design Consultant, designed the house.  He grew up in Westwood, and he is living in Irvine, CA.  The house will be build by an African American construction company. 

As the founder of Caldwell & Associates, I am committed to Westwood because I grew up there, my mother lives in the neighborhood, and it is a great neighborhood that needs redeveloping.  Caldwell & Associates' Fight Against Systemic Racism goals are not about making money, but all about inspiring and investing in Westwood one house at a time.   I understand that owning a home is the foundation of the American dream.

Member of the Dayton Area Chamber of Commerce