KI Reviews

Pros

friendly co-workers, if you ever have any questions or need any help managers or other workers will help you out.

Cons

some of the cons are if you are in the plastics department and you get behind other employees will get upset with you even though you are just starting out

Advice to Senior Management

again the leadership there is very organized if i ever needed to get a hold of the manager she was always there and willing to listen

Pros

pay is better than average

Cons

They work you to the bone and there is many long summer days/nights

Advice to Senior Management

Get a more relevant degree for your position

Pros

The management at KI generally sets quantifiable goals, encourages certain management mythologies and then gets out of the way, measuring only results, not compliance.

Cons

Sometimes KI gets too wrapped up in searching for the perfect management paradigm leaving its middle management to flounder in a sea of endless philosophy with little practical direction.

Advice to Senior Management

Sometimes it is a good idea to fight to keep a good employee and not just let them walk away.

Pros

It was a good team environment while I worked there. My manager at the time gave great feedback, and was willing to help when we needed it. There were plenty of projects to work on, and the work was challenging and rewarding at the same time.

Cons

Work/life balance sometimes suffered with frequent trips to other locations. Richard seemed to have his favorites whether it was his secretary or his personal computer support analyst when he needed help. The style of management from upper management was based on who was the favorite of that particular time, on how projects were pushed through and approved, and who got the dollars for projects.

Advice to Senior Management

Treat all departments heads with the same respect, the last time I worked at KI was in 2001 (Turbo), and seeing the previous posts from recent employees it looks like things have not changed.

Pros

Affords a high level of independence and multiple opportunities for continued education and self-improvement. It's an employee owned company that affords its reps access to senior management which allows a good deal of latitude when negotiating larger sales. Excellent training program for new reps. Genius Wall.

Cons

Its executive level management is deeply rooted in an outdated business model that mutes and drives away new talent. The difference between direct and independant districts increases the difficulties of cross-territory selling. Direct selling in go-to markets turns would-be distribution partners into competitors.

Advice to Senior Management

Consider the ideas of the new talent you've brought on board. These people have proven track records. Employees who own shares in the company lose confidence in the company's future when the door to employment is revolving.

Pros

The benefits were competitive. In house cafeteria had good food. The company completely adopted the lean principles and were committed to holding regular kaizens.

Cons

The pay was not in line with the work being done. The majority of the work occurs in the summer months, so you cannot take more than 2 weeks of vacation in the summer. The job gets to be so busy in the summer, you can't wait for summer to be over! Often times raises were delayed or not given. Then, when raises were given, the employees would be told that every one was getting the same raise, when in fact that was not true.

Advice to Senior Management

Give your employees more opportunities for advancement, and give decent raises. Also, it's time for Dick Resch to move on.