Northwest Aerospace News August | September Issue No. 4 | Page 55

T PACIFIC NORTHWEST AEROSPACE ALLIANCE SPOTLIGHT he company values and employee engagement are at the heart of succeeding in these three areas and everyone rec- ognizes the need to “walk the talk,” from the top down. As the company embraced the new strategy, the leadership team personally presented the strategy approved by the board to all employees. This engagement continues through quarterly all-hands meetings and involvement of the leadership team in regular workshops and deep-dives. “To effectively lead change, you must lead from the front,” says Cagnatel. “I want all of our employees to feel like their voice is equally import- ant, regardless of their position.” This approach to leadership is winning the hearts and minds of employees across the company. Sean Allen, training spe- cialist, interim supervisor and ten-year employee says, “I am more excited today than ever before, seeing all the new things that are happening. We now have employee recognition programs and our leadership is actively involved with the teams – they know what’s going on from the ground up, which leads to fast resolution of issues.” The heavy focus on safety first has also had a tremendous impact on the team, in addition to a dramatic reduction in OSHA recordables. Dung Tran, decora- tive applicator, comments, “I’m so happy to still be working here; there have been lots of great changes over the last year, especially around safety and teamwork…now I’m always glad to see my team.” The culture being embraced is proving a significant attraction for more talent, which is leading to a more enriched and more diverse workplace. Julie Kelley joined the team as director of business development in early 2018, after being inspired at the opportunity to be part of a team that is going to make a significant impact in Washington State’s aerospace industry. Her experience so far has exceeded her expectations; Julie describes the workplace as, “An incredibly enriching environ- ment where collaboration, transparency and respect are a way of life.” AIM Aerospace has made some bold moves in the last 18 months, choosing to pioneer a new approach to step up to the challenges facing the industry. With their safety first, customer and employee centric approach, enabled by the principles of Industry 4.0 and leadership over management, they are already emerging as leaders amongst their peers. AIM Aerospace demonstrates that the current climate of cost reduction, increased demands from customers and the changing workforce is not one to be feared, but an opportunity to embrace creativi- ty and innovation. It will be exciting to watch them as the next chapter of aerospace history unfolds. AIM Aerospace Corporate Headquarters 705 SW 7th Street Renton, WA 98057 [email protected] Tel: [phone] AUGUST | SEPTEMBER 2018 ISSUE NO. 4 55