FIND A CONTRACTOR BUYER'S GUIDE
BECOME AN INDUSTRY PARTNER
MCAA Logo
MEMBER LOGIN JOIN
NEWS
The 2026 MCAA Annual Online Auction is Now Open ↗

Ash Grove Cement Company plant wins award

Words: Jacqueline Ammar/Public/News/20120325130500-1.jpg" width="600" height="338" border="0" alt="The Ash Grove Cement Company’s Durkee, Ore., plant won top honors in the company’s annual Maintenance Excellence Program." />
The Ash Grove Cement Company’s Durkee, Ore., plant won top honors in the company’s annual Maintenance Excellence Program.
The Ash Grove Cement Company’s Durkee, Ore., plant won top honors in the company’s annual Maintenance Excellence Program (MEP) competition for 2011.

According to Ash Grove Assistant Vice President of Manufacturing Bruce Newell, “Our Durkee, Ore., plant wastheMEP award recipient in 2010 and continued in its quest to keep thetrophy there by maintaining a high standard of performance in executingMEP strategies in 2011.”

Durkee Plant Manager Terry Kerby said, “Winning another Ash Grove award for how we manage costs reflects well on our entire team. Our plant remains competitive in the marketplace, and we ensure Ash Grove customers receive a quality product at a reasonable price by effectively implementing MEP strategies.” The Durkee plant also received the 2011 Ash Grove Energy Management (AGem) award.

Since 2008, eight Ash Grove cement manufacturing plants and two grinding facilities have competed to earn the award. Each facility is evaluated on several “Key Performance Indicators” (KPI) in conjunction with MEP posting requirements and the actual maintenance cost per equivalent ton of cement. TheMEP key performance indicators show both financial and functional performance as to how well plants are mastering the MEP concept and improving their overall maintenance performance.

Ash Grove’s MEP requires a total plant effort, according to Newell. “Durkee has proven that the hourly craft personnel in the plant make a difference by their participation on key MEP teams as well as by writing work requests and work orders, adding pertinent information to work order closing comments that contribute to establishing a valuable work history in the Avantis database, which can then be used in the future to troubleshoot problems and streamline work procedures,” he said.

The Durkee, Ore., Ash Grove cement manufacturing plant employs 109 and began operations in 1979. The plant expanded in 1998 and is certified as ISO 14001 compliant, which is an international standard for excellence in environmental management. The Durkee plant has earned awards including: the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Energy Star Award in 2010, the Pacific Northwest Chapter of Air and WasteManagement Environmental Achievement Award in 2010 and several safety awards from the Portland Cement Association as well as Ash Grove’s President’s Safety awards.
 0
Is Contact with Wet Mortar or Grout Dangerous?
April 2026

In the world of masonry, few materials are as common as mortar and grout. Whether you are laying brick, concrete masonry units (CMU), or pouring grout into masonry walls, wet cement and mortar are constant companions. However, beneath their utility lies a

Zach Everett
Technical Talks
Read More
The Importance of Instructor Support
April 2026

Whether you are a new or veteran masonry instructor, we all need support throughout our careers. We can never stop learning, and keeping up with ever-changing technology, materials, and installation techniques can be overwhelming alongside the everyday pr

Curtis Hoover
Resources
Read More
Vibing Masonry #11: Innovative Concrete Masonry Technologies in Healthcare Design
April 2026

In the high-stakes environment of healthcare design, every material choice is a clinical decision. Architects, engineers, and facility administrators are tasked with creating spaces that are not only resilient and code-compliant but also conducive to heal

Steve Blye
Technical Talks
Read More
Why Termination Bars Still Matter: A Practical Look at Long‑Term Flashing Performance
April 2026

In recent discussions across the masonry industry, I have heard termination bars described as “old school.” The implication is that with modern materials, primerless peel-and-stick flashings, advanced sealants, and structural insulated sheathing, mechanic

Linda Potter
Technical Talks
Read More