Advanced Drainage Systems Employee Reviews for Production Manager

"Not a job for the educated or those who think."

What do you like about working at Advanced Drainage Systems?

"Stocks increased in value nicely."

Do you have any tips for others interviewing with this company?

"ADS is a good stepping stone. You will gain great experience while there, and won't be compensated enough for it, and can use the experience to land even a decent salary later."

What don't you like about working at Advanced Drainage Systems?

"How they treat hourly employees; the work them like dogs. Equipment and process hasn't changed in 25 years and the work is labor intensive and dangerous. They hire good talent and smart folks but don't pay well at all. If CEO can afford to give away $10m, they pay him too much for only a $1b gross company. They also don't value college degrees much, but this actually may be changing it seemed to me. People with degrees will feel they are not encouraged to think or try to improve the process. It seems like a good ol boys club sometimes, on the bottom we work hard so a few on top can make the $. They focus more on sales team than manufacturing team. Plants are seen as a necessary evil and that sales does the real work."

What suggestions do you have for management?

"Offer higher more competetive salaries and make employees pay for medical insurance. We could not attract great employees and had to settle for lower quality simply due to pay. They are well below market for similar jobs else where. They also don't seem to like minorities and women in manufacturing environment because you don't see any."