As an employee-owned company, Sharon Center-based EBO Group Inc. has systems in place that help it implement changes on a continuous basis.
The company designs and manufactures industrial clutches and brakes, as well as medical procedure and transport chairs. Among its continuous improvement programs is one that reflects the company’s name, Excellence by Objective. Every quarter, each employee turns in a one-page EBO form to his or her supervisor that includes ideas for change or projects they want to pursue in addition to their normal duties. It could be changes to their work area, their department or the entire company. “The best ideas in your company come from the people that actually are doing the work,” says President Keith Nichols. “Every company’s got to go through some constant change, be it major or minor, to keep up with what’s going on in their industry and what’s going on in the general marketplace. If they don’t do that, eventually they’ll become a dinosaur. It’s a necessity for long-term survival.”
Ten years ago, the company recognized several risks. The first was focusing its product line and development efforts in a single industry; the second revolved around ownership transition and management succession planning.
EBO Group’s team came up with four major changes to combat the risks: a new corporate structure, product line diversification, a new enterprise resource planning system and ISO registration. Among the many benefits, EBO Group’s revenue has grown more than 30 percent each year from 2004 to 2006, and through strong teamwork last year, the company established a 30-year business plan.
Nichols believes in giving employees the freedom to come up with their own ideas and giving permission to pursue them.
“A lot of companies make the mistake that they don’t allow people to pursue what their passions are,” he says. “If we can pursue somebody’s passion, and it fits our business model, that’s what we’ll do.”
HOW TO REACH: EBO Group Inc., (330) 239-4933 or www.pttech.com
