A recent article in USA Today indicates that Johnson & Johnson, one of the country's leading drug manufacturers and household products producers may be facing some tough decisions moving ahead. The company claims to have a very positive business philosophy in putting the customer's needs first. However, the company, which has thousands of employees throughout the country and is the largest health care company in the world, is fighting a battle against critics.

Are Profits the Only Target?

Every company needs to turn a profit to stay operational. However, some say that Johnson & Johnson is on a quest for increasing profits to higher and higher levels each year, whether or not they are meeting customer needs. In the USA Today article, the reporter indicates the company's profits in the last year have hit a record $13 billion. Over the last two years, the company also has settled or has been found liable in various instances for some $751 million. These claims come from failing to meet federal safety standards, defective products or even in taxpayer health care fraud claims.

What Do You Think?

Some people claim that there are too many people in the company making mistakes and those mistakes are having big repercussions when they come in, in terms of satisfying customer needs. Do you feel that way? Do you count on this company to manufacturer or distribute any of the health care products you need?

Perhaps most importantly is to look at those profits. Could a company this large and powerful put some of those profits towards improving customer needs and quality? For many people, that is really the only desire.