PETERSBURG, VA - QIO Award Winner Carolyn Nichols, in Virginia Abrasives' Belt department, has been announced as the Quarter 4, 2023 QIO Award recipient. Her suggestion to reduce lost time by organizing supplies in drawers underneath work stations in her department will help streamline the job and provide an opportunity to increase efficiency in the area. 

The Quality Improvement Opportunity (QIO) program aims to involve employees in plant and product improvements. Started in 2023, Virginia Abrasives added the program to encourage continued improvements. Currently at 1,063 days without an accident, the entire team is focused on celebrating three years accident-free in a month. 

"Eleven other suggestions were submitted during the past quarter, all of which will be implemented in fully or partially," said CEO Kelly Bye when announcing the submissions.

He added, "We are looking forward to the continued contributions of our talented team."

Along with the entry from QIO Award Winner Carolyn Nichols, the suggestions ranged throughout the plant, from a suggestion of adding a video on how to use the Early Entry Green Concrete Ninja diamond blade, to a suggestion to remove grit from clogging up on a machine, which was submitted complete with a diagram to help facilitate implementation of the idea.

Virginia Abrasives is one of only five companies making abrasives in the United States. With roots in the floor refinishing industry, they specialize in flooring abrasives and in the past 53 years have expanded the product lines to include diamond blades, floor grinders, floor saws, grinder tooling, core drills and core drill bits, trowel blades, sanding sponges, scarifier tooling, floor refinishing pads, sanding screens, floor coverings removal blades and much more. Whether you own a rental store and need floor refinishing supplies, a hardwood or industrial floor refinisher or in any other construction business, you can count on Virginia Abrasives for fast, free same-day shipping, quality abrasives products and a company willing to work to meet your needs.