Best Places to Work 2024: No. 10 Supplier: Asahi Kasei Plastics North America

Asahi Kasei Plastics North America's core values — challenge, creativity and sincerity — are demonstrated in everything its team does.

"We always strive to look for new ways to solve customer and industry challenges. To do this, we must be creative and do things differently. … Employees come first. Safety comes first. We truly care about our people," the company said in its Best Places to Work survey. "We build them up."

APNA defines itself as a "leading manufacturer of innovative, high-performance, engineered polymers, chemically coupled polypropylene resins and best-selling purging compounds in North America." The company is based in Fowlerville, Mich., but operates from four "strategic locations" across North America.

"APNA serves various sectors with its materials, including automotive, electronics, construction and consumer goods. … APNA prides itself on the innovative use of technology to make the best plastic that can fit a variety of needs and segments," the company said. "This is done through the support of our employees and their commitment to growth, collaboration, sustainability and excellence."

The workplace promotes a culture of "honesty, integrity and respect, combined with flexible scheduling."

"We empower our team with schedule choices, reflecting our commitment to their well-being. Internal growth and diverse daily challenges prevent monotony, fostering long-term engagement," APNA said, adding that its benefits create a "supportive, dynamic environment" where employees are valued and believe they have a promising career path.

APNA focuses on both a global and local impact.

"Asaclean, an APNA business unit, has a 20-year tradition where all full-time employees get a free trip to Japan after three years with the company. The trip consists of visiting Asahi Kasei's corporate headquarters in Tokyo and sightseeing in Tokyo and Kyoto," the company said, adding that the trip showcases its focus on "cross-cultural values and global impact."

Closer to home, team members participate in community drives for needed items as well as local health and human service initiatives. The company matches employees' charitable donations.

"We foster strong community ties through charity work and offer unique benefits like scholarships for employees' children and creative family-inclusive contests. … APNA is a community where success is shared, and every member is valued," it added.

External team-building activities include outings to baseball games, visiting golf driving ranges and amusement parks, curling, ax-throwing and participating in charity work for United Way.

Internal events for employees include company holiday parties and a separate party for employees' children, chili cookoffs, Super Bowl events and other days dedicated to the team's well-being.

For work anniversaries, APNA team members are recognized with a commemorative plaque, gift catalog and additional paid time off.

In terms of employee retirement plans, the company offers every team member a 5 percent match plus an additional 3 percent.

"We have extremely low-cost [expense ratio] funds, so our employees make more money compounded over time," it said.

If an employee opts for a flexible spending account, then the company gives them "$1,000 and then match an additional $1,000."

APNA emphasizes the growth and development of its staff with various initiatives.

One of its established programs allows team members to nominate their colleagues for being a good teammate or for going above and beyond. The company has celebrated a streak of being injury-free with catered lunches for all shifts.

Focus groups are created to go over feedback and address key areas for improvement.

"We have a formal tuition assistance program at APNA," it said. "Employees can work toward two-year (non-job-related), four-year (job-related) or graduate degrees (job-related) in addition to work-related courses that are not part of a degree program."

A formal leadership development program is also in place, in addition to courses available through its learning management systems that supports leadership development and can be utilized on demand.

Founded in 2000, APNA has appeared on Plastics News' Best Places to Work list every year since 2015.

"We are honored to be recognized as a Best Place to Work," President Phani Nagaraj said in a statement. "At APNA, we firmly believe that 'people buy from people,' so we prioritize our employees as our greatest asset. By recognizing our team, we cultivate a culture where fulfillment thrives, leading to satisfied customers and sustainable growth. This award reaffirms our commitment to fostering a workplace where our team members feel empowered, and we will continue to aim for this achievement."