WATERLOO — Advanced Heat Treat Corp. does highly technical, complicated work.

AHT provides heat treat services and metallurgical solutions to companies across the globe. This involves finely calibrated equipment, controlled laboratory conditions and extensive knowledge of math, chemistry and physics.

What isn’t complicated is why AHT leads its industry: great people, said Gary Sharp, founder and CEO.

Sharp’s guiding principle is posted in a conference room at AHT headquarters: “Loyal people are at the heart of Advanced Heat Treat Corp. Working at AHT means a lot more than just starting work and earning a paycheck. Employment signifies a commitment — commitment from you to the company and a life commitment from the company to you.”

This sentiment aligns with the company’s core values, said Mikel Woods, president: service, teamwork, integrity, professionalism, passion and loyalty.

“We do what we say and say what we do,” he said.

AHT offers benefits and perks that are sometimes uncommon in industrial settings, such as opportunities to volunteer and scheduling flexibility. Likewise, the company eschews the rigidity of things like “zero-tolerance” attendance policies.

“Personal family situations do occur, and AHT knows the employee needs to be able to have the flexibility to handle those types of issues,” said Gayla Hoppenworth, human resources manager.

Hoppenworth noted how her work family rallied around her when her grandson died in a tornado that destroyed her home and possessions.

“I can’t describe the care that the management team and the great people that I work with showed me,” she said. “They are not just co-workers but people that I consider friends and are always there for me.”

More than 100 of the 170 employees work at one of the two sites in Waterloo. AHT also has facilities in Monroe, Mich., and Cullman, Ala.

Many employees start as general laborers, equipment operators and heat treat technicians. With support from AHT, they’re able to advance to skilled positions like metallurgy and laboratory technicians, as well as sales and administration.