Workplace Culture Matters

6 Monday: Starting from the Ground Up

DOI: 10.4324/9781003336051-7

Over the weekend, Jack had read up on Friedman Electronics. Ten years ago, it had been a stodgy organization, well known for its mainstream products but not very highly regarded for its customer service or ingenuity. At the time, Friedman was in the top three manufacturers of electronic cabinets in North America, but its very size militated against its market nimbleness.

Then a little-known Plant Manager became their VP of Operations. He soon turned the corporation on its ear, radically eliminating poorly-performing Plant Managers and hiring young-minded men and women of all ages. This VP of Ops also implemented a new discipline called Lean. He required each plant to employ ...