At Honda, they're all family

ANNA — Ask auto plant workers what they like about their job, most will mention the paycheck and not a lot else. Some might bring up the benefits or hours or even the camaraderie of workers.

Marvin Beverly is the rare plant employee that will tell you the best part of the job is the atmosphere.

“It really is the atmosphere,” Beverly said. “There is such a nice sense of teamwork and an energy here. You see it in almost any situation really. It just works.”

Beverly has been at Honda's Anna Engine Plant for 16 years, working his way up to his current job, engineering coordinator and unit project leader. The job entails interpreting design changes to the manufacturing segment. In other words, he translates the engineers' ideas to the men and women who build the engines and visa-versa.

That gives Beverly a front-row seat at the kind of communication that has made Honda successful.

“I really think that goes to the Japanese culture of the company. We work as a team and because of that people are able to talk about issues they see,” Beverly said.

A 1989 graduate of Lima Senior, he completed college at Ohio Northern University and quickly found work at Honda. It's a 26 minute drive from his Shawnee home that has allowed him to stay in the community and raise his twin 17-year-olds. It has even given the family some unique opportunities to experience the Japanese culture that at the heart of the corporation.

“That's really one of the biggest benefits for us, that cultural appreciation we get during some of the receptions and events they have. Myself and my children have the opportunity to experience the culture. That's not an opportunity everybody gets,” Beverly said.

Honda places an emphasis on the family, both the family at home and the one at the plant, Beverly said. That makes it nice for employees, but it also has a positive influence on the business. It allows the employees to think of themselves not just as individual workers doing a single job, but as an important part of the overall company. And the success of the individual is tied to his or her contribution to the larger goals.

“The family culture is really important. It allows us to look at ourselves as part of a team and not as an individual,” Beverly said. “And there are numerous opportunities to grow with the company if you do your time and do good work for the family.”