Yesterday I was very fortunate to be able to tour the Peckham facility located on the north side of Lansing.  For those who are outside of the area or may not be familiar with Peckham, let me just say that any preconceived notion you might have of an operation that employees and trains disabled people is probably about as far away from Peckham's reality as it can possibly be.

Let me just share Peckham's mission statement taken directly from their web site:

Potential is our reason for being.

Our mission is to maximize the potential of persons with barriers to employment. As we pursue this goal, we continue to offer world-class products and services to our customers.

Every employee at Peckham has a story of overcoming obstacles and becoming more successful, while our customers speak of exceeded expectations and high-quality performance.

Whether providing vocational programs or globally competitive products, Peckham delivers on potential.

I was not aware that Peckham employs over 1200 people and is a major apparel supplier to the Department of Defense. Garments go from design to production all under one roof. Other Peckham facilities provide call center services. Recently their call center began handling passport inquiries for the entire country.

The facility itself is perhaps the most pleasant working environment I have ever encountered.  It is an LEED certified building with much natural light and many energy saving features.  The cafe area was bright and colorful, with a bank of microwaves, cubby holes for those who bring their lunch and refrigerator space for things that need to be kept cold. 

The cubicles - or "I" space - are small, but also very bright and cheerful with semi transparent wall panels with pictures of bright flowers and landscapes.  Pink noise machines help to keep conversations private. Common areas have many places to hold impromptu meetings and more private alcoves available when the need arises.

Peckham also provides areas for things like foot washing to accomodate the needs of employees whose religious beliefs make that a priority.  There is also a Peace Room where people can get away for a few moments during lunch and breaks. In one area, there is a rooftop garden with tables and chairs - another great area for lunch or a small meeting.

Need to check your email during the day? That's not a problem either, with a bank of computers available for employees use during breaks.

The facility also uses technology to communicate with employees.  There are many big screen TV's located around the facility. Those in the lunch room might just be showing a sports channel or news, but they can be used for just about any video presentation that might be necessary.  Small displays outside each room indicated what was scheduled in that room.  

There is a huge focus on training - whether it is English as a Second Language, or computer skills for those who may need special equipment to be able to operate a mouse. 

There is also a focus on quality and continuous improvment.  Peckham has implemented many of the Six Sigma Business Managment concepts. 

In my short tour, I was able to bring back an idea to implement in my own business.  Each cubicle has a big clip with a spiral bound set of four signs.  The signs are:

• How can I help?
• Interrupt if urgent
• Please do not disturb - come back at _______
• Out until ________

Each employee displays the appropriate sign for their current situation letting their co-workers know when they are available.  This helps keep interruptions to a minimum and helps employees meet critical deadlines.

If you are in the Lansing area and have an opportunity to tour this facility, you do not want to let the opportunity pass.!