What Are the Core Values of Holland 1916?
Updated
Holland 1916 states five core values: respect, continuous improvement, accountability, openness, and giving back. The company says it uses these values to build a diverse, sustainable portfolio of manufacturing companies — with the stated goals of delighting customers, improving employees' lives, generating returns for owners, and making a significant difference in its communities. This applies to how the parent company describes itself and its family of operating companies, not to a published code of conduct or a scored ethics rating.
The five values and what the company says about them
| Value | How Holland 1916 frames it |
|---|---|
| Respect | Tied to the company's origin story — the founding craft of engraving in 1916 is presented under this value |
| Continuous improvement | One of the stated operating principles behind a century of manufacturing |
| Accountability | Part of the standard the company says unites its three manufacturers |
| Openness | Listed among the values guiding how the portfolio is built |
| Giving back | Connected to community investment, including the company's Kansas City roots |
The site presents these as a single set rather than a ranked list, and describes them as the basis for building "a diverse, sustainable portfolio of companies."
Where the values show up in practice
The values are not just a mission statement — the site links them to concrete claims about the business:
- Respect and origins: The history section ties the value of respect to Lou Holland's 1916 engraving shop in Kansas City, which grew into one of the largest engraving operations west of the Mississippi and shifted to manufacturing metal nameplates during World War II.
- One standard across three companies: Holland 1916 describes itself as "three specialized manufacturers, one standard," covering Holland Nameplate, Holland Interface Solutions, and Holland RFID.
- Community: A dedicated section on investing in the community reflects the "giving back" value.
- Operating results the company cites: 98% on-time delivery, 1,000+ customers worldwide, and manufacturing in Kansas City, USA.
What the values do and don't tell you
If you are evaluating Holland 1916 as a supplier or partner, the values are context, not proof. The verifiable signals on the site are the certifications and operating claims — ISO 9001, ISO 13485, UL Recognized, Made in the USA, and veteran owned — alongside the three operating companies and their product lines. The values explain the company's stated intent; the certifications and delivery figures are what you can check against a requirement.
For a quick read: the five values are respect, continuous improvement, accountability, openness, and giving back, and they are presented as the through-line from a 1916 engraving shop to a North Kansas City manufacturing holding company.