Empowering employees to make innovative and sustainable initiatives is part of Franklin Baker Company of the Philippines’ culture as it is a big believer that its success is driven primarily by its people. This is exactly what James Zabala and Robert James Pujed from Diamond Plant in Darong, Davao del Sure have demonstrated in winning the first TOWER award for the company.
The Outstanding Workers of the Republic (TOWER) Awards recognizes the nation’s best non-supervisory blue-collar and white-collar workers, showcasing their initiative to drive innovation and, in turn, make large contributions to the growth and productivity of their department or company. It spotlights the important contributions made by occupations that are essential to the economic and technological progress of the country while also promoting pride in excellence and creativity in addressing the myriad of challenges businesses face.
James and Robert were able to secure the Innovation Team Award through their brainchild, the “Agitate to Operate” project which focused on optimizing productivity in coconut paring oil operations by reducing the build-up of “latak” or residue during production. Their efforts resulted in a 30% increase in average daily output of paring oil while also significantly lowering operating costs and improving worker safety. This also opened more possibilities for Franklin Baker to implement other initiatives based on efficiency and productivity while further strengthening the company’s dedication to its people, by encouraging creative problem-solving and listening to employees’ ideas on creating a better workplace.
Befitting the spirit of the Labor Day celebrations, the two employees were honored in a ceremony at the Malacanang Palace held last May 1, 2024 graced by none other than President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., together with officials and representatives from the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) and the People Management Association of the Philippines (PMAP). It was a proud moment for the Franklin Baker team to accept an award that honors their employees and enables them to showcase their commitment in supporting the Philippine coconut industry.
Franklin Baker recognizes and thanks James and Robert for their out-of-the-box thinking and commitment to making the company a safer and more productive place to work in! They are stark examples of the company’s goal to give people the tools and support they need to achieve excellence through a sustainable and innovative lens.
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