Often there is a divide between those in the office and those who work on the floor. This divide can seem as if it is a wall that stands between the two parties. Building a strong culture brings unity between the two, but a great culture cannot exist as two separate entities divided by a shop floor wall. Though we have yet to achieve our final goal of breaking down that “wall,” we hope that through continuous improvement we can become that great culture we strive for.
If you think of this process as removing “one brick at a time,” the process began with the dress code. There was an apparent disparity in the way people looked on the shop floor compared to in the offices. Those on the floor had to wear jeans or durable workpants while those in the office were required to wear slacks or other dress clothes. Doing away with this allowed for a more uniform code that made all employees feel like equals.
A focal point of our strategy towards building a solid culture is allowing for employees to utilize their genius. One way this happens is through creating leadership opportunities. At Cambridge, companywide meetings take place every day and provide full transparency into details about company operations - whether it be finances, safety, or delivery timing. These meetings are led by different individuals every day. Employees sign up and are given a chance to lead in front of the entire company. Not having the same higher-ups conducting the meetings every day clarifies that anyone can be a leader, regardless of their official position.
When working on the shop floor, most of the day is planned for you as there are quotas on production, unlike in the office, where the time utilization is more at the discretion of the individual employee. To ensure that all employees feel as if their ideas are appreciated, time is set away each day for “lean” ideas. This is when the employees on the floor have no task that is required of them, and they are allowed to think of anything that can improve the company freely, whether it be changes to the processes, their workstation, or something that could improve safety. Empowering individuals is a centric idea of this culture and lets it be known that genius exists within every individual.
One glaring disparity that can cause frustrations between the office and floor is indoor air quality and comfort. It is apparent to people on the floor that they are seen as less valuable when working in poor air quality conditions. The office should not be a comfortable temperature while the floor is cold during the winter or hot during the summer. The investment of thermal comfort does more than meet a code standard, it signals to your employees that their company cares for them.
The pandemic brought with it many challenges. One of which being the fact that office workers gained the ability to work from home while those on the floor were still required to be on campus. We realize that the ability to work from home is not going away. However, through continuous improvement, we are striving to find a solution that will bring equality to both sides.
Breaking down the wall between the office and floor is certainly not a task that can be completed overnight. Rather than being one large change, it comes with small changes or removing of “bricks”. For a healthy culture to exist, it must be unified. Finding ways for employees to dress and think the same are great ways to ensure that everyone feels appreciated and on the same playing field. The benefits of overcoming the challenges are quickly apparent as it improves moral, recruitment, and retention. Help create an awesome workplace by joining Cambridge for a morning meeting to see these ideas in action.