Newington Gypsum/Koch Industries

Challenge

The Newington gypsum wallboard manufacturing plant had been recognized as one of the industry’s top performing plants worldwide since it began operations in 1989. As a result of an acquisition by Koch Industries—an organization with a different operating philosophy—plant performance had fallen below expectations. The plant needed assistance in guiding the organization through a strength-based appreciative redesign process that would result in outstanding performance while integrating the best of both Koch’s and Newington’s principles of operation.

Solution

Over three months, a design team made up of organization members from all areas of the plant looked at the current Newington operating philosophy and organizational design and how it fit—or didn’t—with the Koch philosophies and requirements. The plant’s existing charter was improved to reflect both organization’s operating philosophies and ultimately resulted in critical changes to operating roles and business meetings. An implementation plan was devised that included a three-day plant-wide summit that built support for the design changes, provided further development opportunities for the teams and allowed the planning of the next implementation steps.

Results

In the brief period since the summit—even though they are still in the early stages of change—performance at the plant has improved remarkably. The plant manager and organization’s resource person have agreed that conducting more effective business meetings has resulted in higher morale and improved operations.

BACK