Page 88 - 100 Great Business Ideas: From Leading Companies Around the World (100 Great Ideas)

HERMAN MILLER $
INNOVATES,INNOVATES,
INNOVATES

Herman Miller is the second largest seller of office 117NO LLDVNI 30 03 3AIIVAON NI3 H 1
furniture in the U.S. It is generally regarded as the
most innovative firm in the industry. It innovates
in virtually every aspect of the business from prod-
ucts to processes of all types. It created the modular office. Ergo-
nomic chairs and sleek looking designs are routine for the firm.
Among its many other proud innovative traditions are employee
participation in key decisions, and profit sharing programs for
employees. Open communication and the building of a trusting
work environment are other key values.

One of the most unique facets of its innovation is its efforts to be a
green company (an environmentally proactive company). It has

tackled its expression of concern for the environ-
ment in a responsive yet profitable way.
In 1990, for example, Bill Foley, the
research manager at Herman
Miller, realized that the firm was
using far too much wood from
tropical forrests. So
he sent out an
edict that th.e firm
would no longer
use two species —
rosewood and Hon-
duran mahogany, once
existing supplies
were depleted.
This threatened
the sales of the
firm's signature furni-
ture product, the $2300
Eames chair which was
finished in rosewood.

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