CertainTeed Gypsum
Challenge
"The recent team summit lead by IPI was among the best I've been involved in. They were able to grasp the attention of our employees and maintain it throughout the session. Our employees have a renewed spirit and are refocused on the team's success."
- RON BAL
PLANT MANAGER
GEORGIA-PACIFIC GYPSUM LLC, USA
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CertainTeed Gypsum, a major manufacturer and distributor of Gypsum products in North America, was building a new high-speed plant in Moundsville, West Virginia. Part of the company’s strategy was to create a high-commitment/high-engagement organization to operate this “best in the world” plant. IPI partners guided the Moundsville steering committee and design team through the process of designing and implementing this strategy using a strength-based design process.
Solution
IPI first helped develop a charter document that described the rationale for creating the high-commitment/high-engagement plant, its vision, mission, values and objectives, as well as the project’s goals and key success factors. Arrangements were made to visit other high-performing plants outside of the industry to view the latest technology and gain insight into what’s possible. A strength-based socio-technical approach was then used to design the organization and all support systems including job descriptions, selection and hiring systems, management systems, information systems and technical-support systems. A preliminary implementation plan was developed and 100 people were hired. Using an Appreciative Inquiry Summit approach, the entire organization was brought together for three days to self-select operational positions in the plant and create plans for implementation.
Results
The organization had developed all plant teams and had finished installing and commissioning all plant equipment and supporting technologies prior to its opening in March 2008. Using all plant members in the commissioning and preparation of all plant technology was seen to be very unique in the industry. This plant is expected to become a model for CertainTeed/Saint-Gobain to follow in the future.
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