NOVO Health Services Nashville Plant Wins Highest Honors TRSA The Best Plant Of The Year Award

NOVO Health Services is proud to announce that its Nashville facility has been awarded the TRSA The Best Plant Of The Year Award, a recognition that highlights excellence in efficiency, innovation, and customer service. This achievement underscores NOVO’s commitment to operational excellence and its relentless focus on providing top-tier healthcare linen management.

Transformative Leadership and Team Collaboration

At the heart of this achievement is Brett Wooden, the Nashville Plant Manager, whose leadership was instrumental in the plant’s transformation. When asked why the Nashville plant won the award, Wooden emphasized the importance of teamwork and trust. “We had to come together as a team and trust each other. It wasn’t just about changing processes—it was about changing mindsets,” Wooden said. This shift in culture allowed the team to align their goals and work collectively toward operational improvements.

Director of Operations Justin Monson, who oversees facilities in Atlanta, Nashville, Spindale, echoed this sentiment. “In the past, the tendency might have been to churn through people to find solutions. Instead, we focused on processes and gave our team the tools and support they needed to succeed. The results speak for themselves.”

Major Refurbishments and Technological Upgrades

Opened in 2016, the Nashville facility underwent significant refurbishments in 2024, a key factor in earning the TRSA The Best Plant Of The Year Award. The upgrades included the enhancement of two tunnel washers, presses, dryers, ironer/folder/feeders, and blanket blasters. These improvements were not merely cosmetic; they were strategic investments aimed at increasing efficiency and maintaining high standards of service.

“We saw a tremendous opportunity to leverage upgrades that would enhance our efficiency and service quality,” Wooden noted. The refurbishment process was not without its challenges, including a devastating tornado in December 2023 that temporarily halted operations. Despite these setbacks, the team’s resilience and commitment ensured that customer demands were met even during the recovery period.

Operational Excellence and Efficiency Gains

The Nashville plant’s operational improvements have been nothing short of remarkable. The facility produces 55,000 pounds of linen daily and employs 75 staff members. Prior to the upgrades, the plant operated seven days a week with two shifts running nearly 22 hours a day. Today, the same output is achieved with just five single shifts over five days, significantly reducing operational hours while maintaining service quality.

“We haven’t lost any customers; in fact, we’ve renewed all of them. The efficiency gains have positioned us for future growth,” Wooden explained. This transformation has also opened the door for increased capacity, with the potential to add 50% more revenue and poundage by 2026.

Commitment to Customer Service and Continuous Improvement

A key component of the Nashville plant’s success is its robust customer service model. The service team conducts monthly visits to all accounts, providing detailed action plans and follow-ups. Monthly meetings with each healthcare system review overall metrics, while daily communications ensure that customer needs are consistently met.

Wooden highlighted the importance of communication, both within the team and with NOVO’s leadership. “We maintained open lines of communication with ownership, making sure they understood our needs and progress. Their support was crucial in our success.”

Looking Ahead: Growth and Continued Excellence

With the TRSA The Best Plant Of The Year Award now in hand, the Nashville plant is setting its sights on future growth. “Now that we’ve achieved this level of efficiency, our next goal is to expand. We’re aligned with our executive leadership on increasing sales efforts in this market,” Monson stated. The plant’s operational health has provided the confidence needed to pursue new business opportunities aggressively.

Wooden added, “We set a goal to increase revenue by 50% by 2026, but with the momentum we’ve built, we might achieve that within the next few months.”

Recognition and Gratitude

Both Wooden and Monson were quick to recognize the contributions of their team and the broader NOVO organization. “This wasn’t just a Nashville win—it was a NOVO win,” Wooden emphasized. He credited the corporate engineering staff, executive leadership, and other facilities like those in Atlanta and Rockmart, GA, for their support.

Wooden also extended his gratitude to NOVO’s CEO, Karl Fillip II, for trusting in his team’s vision and approving the capital investments necessary to transform the plant. “Having leadership that believed in our potential made all the difference. Their faith in our ability to exceed expectations gave us the momentum we needed to deliver exceptional results,” he said.

“We’ve built a culture of continuous improvement and mutual support. The trust and investment from our leadership have been invaluable, and we’re proud to deliver a strong return on that investment,” Wooden concluded.

As NOVO Health Services continues to set the standard in healthcare linen management, the Nashville plant’s TRSA The Best Plant Of The Year Award is a testament to what can be achieved through leadership, teamwork, and a relentless pursuit of excellence.

NOVOHealthServices.com