Bimba Manufacturing Company

"We believe that the success of our company depends on the quality and capabilities of our employee-owners. Therefore, our commitment to effective training and development programs is an important part of our strategic plan. It is also part of our core values and beliefs. Additionally, since Bimba is an employee-owned business, investment in the development of our human capital is an investment in ourselves. While many factors affect the success of a company, one common attribute of the best companies is a well-trained workforce.” - Patrick Ormsby, President and CEO

Bimba Manufacturing Company is a leading manufacturer of flow control and cylinders used in machinery and automation in many industries. Headquartered in Monee, IL, outside Chicago, Bimba employs 475 people and 400 in the Chicago area

Ninety percent of Bimba’s stock is owned by its employees, so its staff takes an active interest in the performance of the company. To ensure the company’s success, Bimba has developed a comprehensive employee development system that links goals to learning and development, a performance-based pay and promotion system, a strong internal communications system, employee learning incentives, and ongoing measurement and documentation of the impact of the learning system on the organization.

Because most adults are visual learners, Bimba has implemented a Visual Management System using a variety of visual job aids to communicate key processes, work instructions and quality measures throughout the company. In addition to providing a powerful means to learning, the firm’s Visual Management system leads to standardized procedures, builds a common language used by the entire workforce, and reinforces formal training efforts. To increase employees’ flexibility and encourage them to actively engage in “running the business,” Bimba places a high premium on cross training. In fact during economic downturn, the firm takes advantage of the slowed production to conduct more cross training, not less.

Bimba measures the success of its efforts by documenting impact and has conducted rigorous ROI studies on its technical skills training programs, the results of which have convinced managers and board members of the positive effect employee development has upon the company’s profit picture.

Click here to view full case study. The information presented here was assembled in 2002. This does not necessarily represent the current status of Bimba.