Faces of Manufacturing: Be Selfish About Your Safety
Editor's Note: Throughout October in celebration of Manufacturing Day/Month, IndustryWeek's Faces of Manufacturing will share the stories of people with a passion for manufacturing.
Jeff Rutter (at right)
City/State of Residence: Westerville, Ohio
Job Title: EHS Manager
Company: Armstrong World Industries
Years with Company: 6
Industry of Your Company: Building Products
Training / Education: Bachelor’s degree, Otterbein University; OSHA Authorized Outreach Trainer; ITIL Certified; Green Belt Lean Manufacturing; and a variety of safety-specific certifications.
What made you decide to pursue a career in manufacturing?
I started out in information technology but wanted a career where I could make a more direct impact on people’s lives. I had always been drawn to health and safety, so I transitioned into environmental, health, and safety within manufacturing. Manufacturing allows me to combine my passion for protecting people with the satisfaction of knowing our work produces something tangible and essential.
What does your job entail?
In manufacturing, safety is at the core of everything we do. My role has two pillars: compliance and culture. Compliance ensures our plants meet all legal and regulatory requirements, building the framework for safe operations. Culture takes it further—fostering a shared mindset where employees actively look out for their own safety and for each other. Strong safety culture is what transforms compliance into daily behaviors that prevent incidents, keep production running efficiently and, most importantly, ensure that everyone goes home safe at the end of the day.
What is the most interesting part of your job? Your proudest moment?
Manufacturing never feels routine because the balance between compliance and culture creates new challenges every day. My proudest moments are when employees tell me how they apply safety principles at home as well as at work. It shows that safety has become part of who they are—and that’s when you know you’ve built a truly safety-minded team.
What do you love about manufacturing?
Manufacturing is a team sport. Whether it’s hitting production goals or solving a challenge on the line, people come together to get the job done. There’s a shared sense of purpose—you can see the results of your effort in the products you make and in the success of the team.
What advice would you give to kids considering a job in manufacturing?
Two things matter most. First, be selfish about your safety—nothing is more important than going home safe. Second, take pride in everything you do. Manufacturing rewards people who do the job right the first time and care about quality. If you focus on safety and take pride in your work, you can go far in this industry.
What advice would you give to manufacturers to help increase kids’ interest in manufacturing as a career choice?
Highlight how rewarding it is to see the results of your work almost immediately. Manufacturing offers a sense of pride—you can point to a product and say, “I helped make that.” At the same time, it’s a field full of opportunity. From skilled trades to engineering, technology integration, sustainability, and leadership, manufacturing offers diverse career paths that are essential to both our economy and our communities.