News

“Team Member Success” More than Just a Phrase at Team 1 Plastics

Team Members sporting bell-bottom jeans and tie-dyed t-shirts. Families hanging out together at a baseball game. Colorful leis around Team Members’ necks. Looking at the pictures on its Facebook page gives one a glimpse into the culture of Team 1 Plastics, a plastic injection molding company for the automotive industry.

Tools like monthly-themed days and summer parties are used by Team 1 Plastics to intentionally cultivate a positive work environment for its Team Members. “Anytime we can add fun things and make work feel less like a job is a positive thing,” said Kiera Carter, Human Resource Assistant, in a recent interview.

Human Resources (HR) is doing several things to enhance the work environment and get more Team Member involvement said Carter. “About six months ago, we started having monthly themed days, which give Team Members the option to participate in dress-up days. This gives them a chance to get out of their normal, everyday work attire and have a little fun with co-workers by dressing up. Some of the themes have been Hawaiian Day, Sports Day, and Decades Throwback day. We’ve also had Super Bowl squares, and we’re getting ready to start the judging for our semi-annual Photo Contest which gives Team Members the chance to submit photographs they have taken and have them displayed throughout the plant.”

And, according to Carter, the Team Members have responded well. “Our Summer and Winter Parties have a pretty good turn out, and everyone loves the anticipation that comes when the next monthly themed day is announced.” The Team Members also like to represent Team 1 Plastics in the community. “We volunteer for numerous parades in the Albion area, and our Team Members enjoy helping out the community — whether it be for Festival of the Forks or a Halloween Parade at the elementary school.”

The foundation of the culture at Team 1 Plastics is its Championship Dream. Developed in 1999 with input from all its Team Members, it is similar to other companies’ mission or vision statements. Team Member Success, one of the four tenets of this document, begins with the statement, “Building an exceptional company is the result of building exceptional teams with exceptional people.”

“Most of our teams consist of only five to seven Team Members who work eight to twelve hours shifts so everyone becomes like a tight knit family,” said Carter. “Our Team Members are low maintenance, easy to get along with, and they understand the importance that we work 24/7. There will be some weeks where they see their co-workers just as much as they do their families. Working together well, in a safe environment, to get the job done is the top priority.”

Carter listed some of the keys of maintaining the positive work environment at Team 1 Plastics. “Management and ownership are very approachable. Promoting open communication creates a welcoming atmosphere. We show that we value our Team’s opinions by including them in strategic meetings and asking for their anonymous feedback and/or suggestions each year.” She added, “You will never hear us refer to someone as an employee. It is Team Member, Captain, Manager, and so on. We are a working team with one goal – to be ‘Your #1 Team in Customer Satisfaction.’”

Carter shared from her own personal experience that the tenet, “Team Member Success” is more than just a slogan. “Team 1 really believes in the Team Members. When I started at Team 1, I was brought in as a temp in the Assembly area on a short-term assignment and never ended up leaving.  The one thing I like most about Team 1 is that if you are willing to work hard and learn, the company is willing to give you the opportunity to do something new. I have never heard anyone in upper management say ‘You can’t’ or “I don’t think you would be a good fit for this position’ because everyone wants you to succeed.”

To help one succeed, Team 1 Plastics offers an “In-Training Program.” Carter explained that the program allows a Team Member to train for a different position before (s)he decides to accept a job that (s)he has never done before. “This allows our Team Members to see if they would like the job before completely committing to it. Even if you don’t have experience, the company will provide you with everything you need to know – that may only be in-house training – or it may be paying for your schooling and working around your work schedule.”

Speaking of training, Carter shared that HR is working on revamping its new Team Member orientation. “Team 1 Plastics will have a designated trainer that will take care of our new Team Members. A Team Member Orientation Program is being produced which will incorporate videos and training to introduce a new Team Member to the culture at Team 1 before (s)he works his/her first shift. We are looking forward to having the new trainer provide a more consistent method of training, allowing our Team Members a greater chance to succeed.”

The thing that Carter likes most about working in HR at Team 1 Plastics is “… the people. At most companies, when someone hears anything about HR, they tend to run in the other direction. Here at Team 1, our Team Members trust us enough that they aren’t scared or worried about coming to us with a question or a concern or to just see if we have any candy in the office.”