Jim Hartford

Jim Hartford, vice president of TMI Systems Design, a casework and millwork manufacturer based in Dickinson, ND, says his company emphasizes corporate communication between the front office and the shop workers using an "open-book management" philosophy, designed to give the employees a sense of involvement with the financial health of the organization.

"Once a month, we bring all the employees in our plant to lunch and talk about the sales and profit figures, as well as benefit plans," says Hartford."You can walk up to anyone on the shop floor, and he or she can tell you how we're doing as a company."

As a result of the company's efforts, Hartford says TMI hasn't laid off an employee in 15 years.

Jim Hartford, vice president of TMI Systems Design, a casework and millwork manufacturer based in Dickinson, ND, says his company emphasizes corporate communication between the front office and the shop workers using an "open-book management" philosophy, designed to give the employees a sense of involvement with the financial health of the organization.

"Once a month, we bring all the employees in our plant to lunch and talk about the sales and profit figures, as well as benefit plans," says Hartford."You can walk up to anyone on the shop floor, and he or she can tell you how we're doing as a company."

As a result of the company's efforts, Hartford says TMI hasn't laid off an employee in 15 years.

More companies are also doing more to educate and train their employees in order to improve their skills and increase productivity.