CONNSTEP is pleased to present this quarterly column profiling leaders in the Connecticut manufacturing community - sharing their thoughts, insights and predictions.
 

Bob Smith, Gatekeeper
Dur-A-Flex, Inc., East Hartford
 

Ours is a true continuous learning organization. Our Dur-A-Flex University educates our team every day during lunch on a variety of subjects, from Epoxy 101 to Beer Making. 73% of our team participates.

A sense of ownership among all staff is our goal. You can either throw people at problems or build leaders. Our people become leaders, knowing all aspects of the business, and always thinking about making improvements to the business.

Between 1991 and 2004 we experienced rapid growth, but our staff was departmentalized, everyone working in a specific position. We had islands of excellence, but our customers expect the company to work seamlessly. Once our focus changed to learning, everything changed. The walls have come down. Everyone has a far greater understanding and buy-in to what makes this company work, and demonstrates that empowering knowledge everyday.

Last year's end-of-year profit sharing was in excess of 25%. We call it our own economic stimulus package.

The Dur-A-Flex Crew
 

Our people determine when overtime is needed. We don't anticipate having to lay people off, even in slow economic times like these. Cross-training and continuous learning means that our team can zig and zag throughout the organization wherever they're needed. Dead ends don't exist here.

Dur-A-Flex is an idea, not a company.

We're not smart enough to run the company ourselves. We need everyone's brains involved.

I may own the stock of the company, but I don't own the idea of Dur-A-Flex. Everyone works for themselves, on behalf of an idea called Dur-A-Flex. And we are all conduits for the expression of that idea to make it grow.

I won't even answer to "boss." As soon as someone calls me that, they've given their power away, and I'd never want anyone to do that.

As the gatekeeper, my responsibility is to keep the company open, financially healthy, and to be responsible for everyone here. Whether it's managing the finances, setting up an on-site health club, or shoveling the driveway, my job is create an environment for my team to thrive.

There are no accidents. You're here for a reason. Take advantage of your time here to grow. Whether you're here for a short time or a lifetime, you should learn as much as you can, so no place of work wherever you go is just a job. I don't want anyone to give his or her power away by simply working for a paycheck. Each person should want to come to work, feel empowered and valued, and gain through personal enrichment. That's the source of true prosperity.

Right now I'm enrolled in an "Art of Movement" class here at Dur-A-Flex U. It's taught by one of our chemists who's also a martial arts expert. I'm in pretty good shape, but I've been struggling in this class to get my body to move like that. But I won't give up.