HUI Manufacturing

Led by: Kurtis Bell, President
Headquarters: Kiel
Founded: 1933
huimfg.com

As HUI Manufacturing grew into one of the top sheet metal manufacturers for the industrial and medical care industries, “we started to reflect deeply and ask ourselves the tough questions about our ability to be ‘different’ in an increasingly rapid and fast-changing world,” says President Kurtis Bell. “Internally, we realized that we needed to leverage our two greatest resources — the people and the culture.”

Today, workers choose HUI because of the team-focused environment. “Together, [employees] share the behaviors of respect [and] trust and understand the personal value of each individual,” Bell says. “Our success is measured by the success of our customers and the growth of our people.”

HUI’s recruitment efforts focus on equality and diversity, with hiring focused on character over experience, and the company “has built a unique culture that is utilized to ensure everyone feels included and can depend on their teammates, management and leadership to be accountable,” Bell says.

HUI has an EAP, health benefits, pension plan or retirement with a company contribution, and supports employee education. The company offers a choice between a 5-, 4-, or 3-day workweek and pays attention to what employees are seeking; its annual employee engagement surveys have resulted in changes to wages and vacation benefits.

HUI hosts a summer party, employee golf event, Timber Rattlers outing and monthly safety raffle. It also offers quarterly bonuses for attendance and quality, as well as recognition for birthdays and anniversaries.

“HUI also has a quarter-century club dinner that recognizes employees who have dedicated over 25 years,” Bell says.

HUI works with local schools, clubs and community organizations; provides youth apprenticeships; and contributes to local engineering programs.