3M Reviews

Pros

They people there are kind and dynamic. They want to keep working for the company. I enjoyed my time there.

Cons

Pay was lower. Not fun to be in Oakdale. Not a lot of activities around that area. Would have liked more benefits.

Pros

A lot of technologies to chose from when interested in expanding your career growth. Each division is run like a seperate business unit which can host many available jobs.

Cons

Because there are so many divisions promotions and yearly ratings may differ largerly because of the group or division you are in.

Advice to Senior Management

Some good technical people are not good managers or supervisors but follow that path to increase there compensation which really hurts the company more then it helps.

Pros

-good pay
-good benefits
-trainings
-opportunities to grow
-information on time

Cons

-management has changed and has lost some credibility
-sometimes management doesn't focus on people who really are doing the job

Pros

Long term commitment to R&D and dual ladder (Technical Professionals and Management)
World Class technology platforms!
Culture of internal innovation with open sharing across the company
Uncompromising ethics and commitment to doing the right thng
Long term, Global, Perspective
Strong support for and myriad opportunities to obtain continuing education
Opportunity (if you are qualified) to move across the company to obtain multiple experiences

Cons

Conservative management culture (can be a bit risk adverse)
Tend to strive toward being middle of the road in compensation while still expecting top tier performance

Advice to Senior Management

Our roots and corporate strategy depends on strong R&D performance, but it seems that fewer and fewer executive conference members seem to have had a significant experience in R&D or even to have a technical degree. If our future dep[ends on this continued strategy, do we need to start swinging the pendulum back a bit?

Pros

Great co-workers, ability to move to different types of businesses.

Cons

Slow moving, as most large companies.

Advice to Senior Management

Don't let Wall Street run the company.

Pros

Diversification of the company and the industries it serves. The company has a tremendous technical platform and technical staff.

Cons

3M states that it supports career development. I think they would like to think that but they do not have the proper tools in place nor the execution of that phiilosphy. I believe a deeper commitment from HR to properly resource such a concept is necessary to truly walk the talk.

Advice to Senior Management

The company needs better leadership development. There are pockets of good leadership but there is much that is lacking in areas as well. The culture is an oppressive culture for new people entering the organization. The statement "you need to be here 10 years before you are valued as a voice" is going to damage their ability to attract the younger work force that is needed for a company to sustain growth.

Pros

Diverse businesses, therefore, enough opportunity to learn.

Cons

Yearly & merit increase was frozen for most employees because US in recession. Only the management team got pay increases irrespective of the recession!! Very demotivating.
Lot of politics in the company!!

Pros

Good Midwestern and Stable Company
Cool technology and product diversity
There's always something new to learn or to work with
Employees, especially technical ones, are always willing to help

Cons

It's a big company and as such moves rather slowly sometimes. It can be difficult to navigate as a new person but with a little gumption, it can be manageable.

Advice to Senior Management

Think about the forgotten but effective method of "management by walking around." You'd be amazed at all the good things going on at 3M that you don't know about.

Pros

Good people oriented company with with lot of independence

Cons

Some times bureacratic, not a great pay master

Advice to Senior Management

Great management

Pros

Giant amount of resources, good interdepartmental knowledge sharing.

Cons

Some processes could be more streamlined, NPI, marketing materials, etc

Advice to Senior Management

Six sigma is best left in manufacturing