Legendary football coach Vince Lombardi once said, "The achievements of an organization are the results of the combined effort of each individual." Although his philosophy was heard most widely in the sports arena, Lombardi's words demonstrate the importance of teamwork in all areas of society. Just as the combined effort of athletes is crucial to the success of a sports team, teamwork plays a major role in the success of construction companies. Take Hill Brothers Construction & Engineering Company Inc. of Faulkner, MS, for example. Founded in 1978, Hill Brothers has evolved slowly from a young contracting company to an established leader in its industry. Although the transition didn't happen overnight, the company credits its ability to cooperate as the driving force in its success. "[With] teamwork and integrity is [how] we operate our business," says Steve Wallace, corporate operating officer for Hill Brothers. "We're a performance contractor, and we do just that: We perform."

After more than 25 years in the business, Hill Brothers continues to expand and diversify its capabilities as a contracting company specializing in grading, concrete foundations, and bridge and highway applications. Most of the jobs it takes on require a highly diversified company capable of handling all aspects of an application, and for this exact reason, Hill Brothers expanded to encompass five ready-mix plants.

The company further grew by acquiring Worsham Brothers, a general building contractor. According to Wallace, adding these divisions has helped Hill Brothers maintain an advantage over the competition simply by giving the company complete control over its work. "Before adding Worsham Brothers, if we had a building project, we would have to sub it. Now we can build it," says Wallace. "Ultimately we wanted to diversify our work. And we've done just that."

Covering Mississippi and the five-state area from Tennessee to Louisiana, Hill Brothers works with many different people in many different places to accomplish a single goal: Be the best contractor doing the best work. Hill Brothers' most recent job with the Natchez Trace Parkway is a prime example of how the company uses its diversity to accomplish a certain task. Marking the longest park in the nation, the Natchez Trace Parkway runs along the 440 mi. between Natchez, MS, and Nashville, TN. Contracted to finish the last 8 mi. of a roadway running through the park, Hill Brothers relied on its many experts to get the job finished. Instead of having one unified labor force work on an entire application, specialized crews take turns completing their individual parts of a job, explains Wallace. The survey crews are responsible for job layout while other crews focus specifically on the concrete, bridge, and earthwork. "We never have the same crew all at once," says Wallace. "One group comes, and then another group comes. A lot of contractors don't do it this way, but it's exactly what we doóand we've been extremely successful."

Diverse Company, Diverse Equipment

Taking a project from start to finish is not an easy task for most construction companies. That's why Hill Brothers has spent the last 25 years taking itself to greater heights. During its peak seasonóJuly through Novemberóthe company employs an average of 500 peopleóa volume necessary for any company that runs more than 200 pieces of equipment on a daily basis, according to Wallace. Excavators, articulated trucks, dozers, motor graders, and bottom-dump highway trucks are a few examples of the diverse machinery used on a typical job site. Although each machine has its individual purpose on a job, every piece of equipment has one common goal: Increase efficiency and productivity. Because production is key to the success of Hill Brothers, the equipment must be reliable and ready for a tough workout.

No doubt having the proper equipment on hand greatly increases productivity on every job application. Maintaining the equipment, however, is the other half of the battle. Hill Brothers depends on its extensive service division and its distributors to ensure the longevity of the machines, explains Wallace. The service division at Hill Brothers handles the day-to-day repairs and monthly servicing of the machines while the dealers are responsible for technical issues and ongoing customer service. "We have extremely capable mechanics on our team," says Wallace. "But we still expect our dealers to be dependable and knowledgeable."

These standards were kept in mind when Hill Brothers made the decision to purchase a second Komatsu D65WX bulldozer in October 2002. After meeting with Power Equipment, its Komatsu distributor, Hill Brothers took ownership of the D65WX as much for the machine as for the distributor. The strong relationship the company has developed with Power is continuing to be an important factor in choosing the right equipment. "Our relationship with our distributor is one of the most important issues we focus onóespecially because we deal with a lot of equipment," says Wallace. "We want a distributor that is reliable and serves our needs. We found that combination with Power Equipment."

Bridging the Gap

Matching a specific machine to an operator usually results in a great partnership between the two. An operator cannot work to his or her full ability without having confidence in the machine he or she is running. On the other hand, a machine cannot operate to its full potential if the operator has problems understanding or running the piece of equipment. Hill Brothers chose to purchase the D65WX because it was confident the machine would benefit the company and operator equally.

The company first concerned itself with finding a machine that could increase productivity in backfill, highway, and quarry applications. The D65WX is equipped with a wide-track gauge and a large-capacity blade, which make maneuvering in tight conditions easier than before. "The wider track on the D65 is what drove us to the machine," says Wallace. "Its mobility allows us to work in more places for an extended period of time, which greatly increases productivity." Whether it's working on a narrow slope or on the side of a highway, the D65WX eases the strain of rugged conditions by increasing mobility and balance.

The D65WX continues to gain acceptance with its operators not only for its efficiency but also for its ease of use and its operator comfort. The machine incorporates a hydrostatic steering system that gives the operator better control of the machine and enables the dozer to maintain power on both tracksóregardless of whether it's moving straight or turning. This specific contribution helps the operators at Hill Brothers maneuver in confined areas with less stress and greater stability, explains Wallace.

Another positive advantage Wallace finds in the D65WX is a comfortable cab. The hexagonal shape of the cab and the high-back seat provide all-around visibility and increased comfort for the operator. Furthermore, the cab is sealed and sound-suppressed to reduce inside vibration and noise. "Not only is the D65 easier to operate than previous models, but it's also very comfortable," says Wallace. "That's important when the operators are running the machine for lengthy periods of time."

While convenience, comfort, and ease of use all are factors that aid in the machine's popularity, reliability is where Hill Brothers sees the largest contribution from the D65WX. The lubricated track system eliminates internal pin and bushing wear, which extends the life of the machine and reduces the need for maintenance. In addition, the high-capacity blades offer good penetration and are capable of handling tough materials. "The D65WX certainly says something about reliability," says Wallace. "We've got machines that need trading and updating, but there's no doubt that this machine is in for the long haul."

Whether the company is building a bridge in Alabama, grading a site in Louisiana, or laying a concrete foundation in Tennessee, one thing is certain: Hill Brothers depends on its people, partners, and machines to see every job through. Just as Lombardi took his philosophy of teamwork to the field, Hill Brothers uses the same underlying principle to drive its success. "Performance is key to success, and we perform," says Wallace. "We have the people, the equipment, and the work. But most of all, we have the desire to go out there every day and do the best job possible."

GEC - March/April 2004