When Meridian Group began work with this client, lost-time injury costs claimed 25% of the division’s net profits and the union grievance list exceeded 100 items with an average delay of over 3 months. Meridian Group set up a process to improve communications between leaders from the company and the union. As leaders developed more trust and openness they set the example for lower levels that changed the way everyone worked together. Over a six-month period the grievance list disappeared and worker’s compensation costs dropped to well below industry norms. Two years later, the union signed a new contract six months ahead of the contract date, saving the company high strike-preparation costs. All this was accompanied by a significant increase in productivity.

Meridian Group set up a process to help managers to be more open to the involvement of employees. As managers learned how to engage employees in more decisions, the first employee group identified a waste problem and analyzed and changed the process flow. This saved $100,000 in material costs every year. Other groups in this plant achieved similar results. Overall, the plant’s productivity increased 40% over 2 years. This plant won the corporate award for annual increased productivity 8 years out of ten. The other two years it took second place.