Since my father started the company in my grandparents' garage 42 years ago, everyone has been on a first-name basis. My grandparents also founded an electrical installation company in Ware in 1953. The atmosphere was always friendly and relaxed. Colleagues were close and even ate lunch together in my grandparents' kitchen. This atmosphere is still felt throughout the company today and is one of the many reasons why our employees remain highly loyal to the company throughout their careers. This was critical to us because they had a wealth of knowledge, and that expertise, along with their tremendous passion, made us the leader in PC-based control technology. It all stems from the many elements that the Beflot family offers its employees -- many of which are hard to quantify. I firmly believe that corporate culture is about much more than glossy brochures or values defined by external consultants. It exists and is embedded in the day-to-day work and life of the company.

 

 

Frederike Beckhoff, assistant general manager of Beckhoff Automation, works to maintain the open, family-oriented corporate culture of the East Westphalian automation company.

Frederike Beckhoff, assistant general manager of Beckhoff Automation, works to maintain the open, family-oriented corporate culture of the East Westphalian automation company.

The core value of Befook's corporate culture is confidence in the company's own strength, which extends to confidence in every employee. Everyone in the company should do his or her part in the job. The company's flat management style helps avoid any form of micromanagement and poor communication channels. You don't see managers in suits swinging around, but a hands-on mentality and style where the priority is to get on with it and do it well. Everyone has to see the big picture, which requires everyone to work closely together, keep the lines of communication open, and be willing to try new things. An open policy is as important as having skilled professionals, and Befofu is proud to say that it has always been talented.

 

We also focus on increasing employee participation in the development of corporate culture, such as participation in our community projects. For many years, we have contributed to the construction of St. John Paul II High School in Mpanda Ndogo, Tanzania. It is an all-boarding boys' school, providing equal access to quality education for up to 360 students and preparing them for future university studies. Befo is also active in a community project in Lesotho that helps local people live self-sufficient lives by teaching them important agricultural basics. We also take an active interest in local social projects such as those in Wale and East Westphalia and provide funding for their smooth progress. Perhaps most importantly, employees will also benefit from the social spirit, sharing and community that we, as founding families, promote. We offer an attractive compensation package and reward employees who contribute to the success of the company. After all, income level satisfaction is related to life satisfaction of employees. We also organize large family sports events in the summer and traditional Christmas parties, where shared experiences strengthen our sense of solidarity and collaboration. It also gives its employees plenty of freedom: flexible working hours help them achieve a work-life balance. Of course, we do a lot of other natural things, like subsidizing lunch, that help create a good working atmosphere.

 

Up to now, Befo has more than 5,000 employees worldwide, but it is undeniable that the entrepreneurial atmosphere full of vigor and vitality in the early 1980s still permeates the whole company. There is an open platform where all ideas, no matter how crazy, can be discussed democratically and, of course, the decision makers have the final say. This approach has spawned a host of innovative products that continue to drive the automation industry. This philosophy also works from a business efficiency perspective: Beckhoff Automation has grown steadily from its own financial resources since its inception, with an average annual growth rate of around 15% over the past two decades.