Manitoba's Top Employers

6 IN ITS NEARLY 100 YEARS OF OPERATION, THE BOEING COMPANY HAS CONTINUED TO PROVIDE COMMERCIAL AIRLINES WITH SOME OF THE LATEST ADVANCES IN AEROSPACE TECHNOLOGY. Those innovations have included everything from the composite materials used in the wings and fuselage of its Boeing 787 Dreamliner to a new hybrid-electric propulsion system currently being tested. One thing that hasn't changed during that time is the company's focus on supporting its employees, including those employed at its Winnipeg site headquarters in Murray Industrial Park. Just ask Shirley Langver, who has been with the company 38 years and worked her way up from an entry level position to become a senior manager. Langver was first diagnosed with cancer back in 2005 and battled the disease on four separate occasions. Today she is cancer free and credits the support of her employer and coworkers with helping her win her fight. "I can honestly tell you the support of (people) here and the strength I pulled from that… was a big part of what pulled me through my struggles," she said. "That is very important to me, the relationships I've built over the years and the friendships I have here at Boeing." That kind of support is a big reason why Winnipeg-based Boeing Canada Operations Ltd. has regularly been ranked among Manitoba's Top Employers. Since it opened for business in 1971, Boeing Winnipeg has grown from 57 employees to more than 1,600, making it one of the city's largest employers. Perhaps an even more impressive number is the average length of service for employees at the company is 20 years. Terry Trupp, a communications specialist who has been with Boeing for 28 years, says one of the main reasons employees tend to remain with the company is its efforts to actively engage them in the decision-making process. Employee teams have a say on everything from how to make their work environment safer to how to reduce waste. Last year, a team working on the Boeing 787 Dreamliner recommended switching from using disposable batteries in their headlamps to rechargeables. The switch resulted in a reduction of the number of batteries the team uses from 50,000 to just 400 per year and reduced battery waste from 18,000 pounds a year to about 2,000. "Rather than having it top down, they're empowered and they empower us to make improvements. That's really helped keep us strong and moving forward," Trupp said. There is very much a family feel among staff at Boeing Winnipeg, both literally and figuratively. In fact, it's not uncommon for multiple generations of the same family to work together. Trupp said the company has made a concerted effort to create a family-like atmosphere where people know and trust each other. It provides a fully-furnished gym that is available to staff for a nominal fee, organizes employee baseball and curling leagues and arranges annual Christmas parties for staff and their children. The company has also made a commitment to investing in the long-term development of employees. It offers tuition subsidies for certificates as well as undergraduate and graduate degree programs and financial assistance for individuals working towards their professional accreditation. In addition, Boeing offers a two-year Leadership Development Excellence (LDE) program designed to develop future leaders within its ranks and in the community. The company also provides local university and college students with on-the-job experience through paid internships which includes mentorship for all students. Trupp said one of the things she is proudest of is the company's efforts to celebrate diversity in the workplace. Each year it stages Diversity Week, a mini Folklorama-like celebration during which employees get to sample all kinds of ethnic food and culture. The company also provides a variety of communications tools to deaf employees and ensures there are interpreters at all meetings they attend. There are also a few days each year set aside to celebrate aboriginal cultural with an event known as Aboriginal Days involving cultural displays, entertainment and food. Even as its Chicago-based parent company prepares to celebrate its past during next year's centennial anniversary celebrations, Trupp said Boeing employees continue to look ahead to Boeing's second century. That future will include more innovation while maintaining current priorities like the many charitable efforts Boeing employees are involved in such as serving breakfast at Siloam Mission, working with students at Fort Whyte farm and the annual United Way plane pull and employee charity campaign. Boeing employees proceeding with the bagging process before the part is sent to the autoclave. Submitted photo. BOEING Boeing and employees continue to soar By Jim Timlick MANITOBA'S TOP EMPLOYERS

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