By Rachel Chang

WORKERS at 3M, the US$23 billion (S$32 billion) multinational company famous for inventions such as Post-it Notes, are encouraged to take time off from work.

Every worker - from the top scientist to the rank-and-file machine operator - can block off 15 per cent of his time at work to spend on his own projects.

The management does not need to know anything about the project or have approved it beforehand. The only criterion is that it is a project with the potential of becoming an important breakthrough for the company.

And if it should come to naught? Dust yourself off and start again.

Some of 3M's most famous products were conceived during this 15 per cent 'break' from work. At 3M Singapore, it has yielded products like a cellphone-sized slide projector.

The 15 per cent time rule is a hallowed part of 3M's overall 'innovation culture', which also prizes delegation, initiative and a strong tolerance for failure. 'Hire the right people, and then get out of the way', goes one mantra to managers.

Yesterday, about 40 of the National Trades Union Congress' top brass, including labour chief Lim Swee Say, paid 3M Singapore a visit to learn more about these best practices.

It follows the Government's move to encourage innovation and raise productivity by 2 per cent to 3 per cent annually in this decade, from the dismal 1 per cent yearly growth in the last decade. 'Within the unionised sector, we will help set the pace,' NTUC secretary-general Lim reiterated after the event yesterday.

3M employees were effusive about the company's working atmosphere. Assistant market development manager Norman Ng, 29, said the company offers incentives for sharing and for teamwork, rather than competition between colleagues. For example, the marketing executives in each of the six business divisions form a marketing council to share advertising strategies and lessons learnt. Prizes are also given out, and winners go on to compete with other prize-winning 3M marketing executives around the world.

Technical manager Amy Tan, 34, has called up 3M employees - 'whoever is the expert in the area' - from South Korea to Germany for help and advice. All employees are encouraged to ask one another for help, regardless of time zone. 'I have never encountered anybody not willing to share,' she said.

And when she is called on by a 3M employee on the other side of the world to help, she does not hesitate. 'The culture is that way. When people do you a good turn, you want to do them a good turn as well.' In fact, new technologies are disseminated to different divisions, so new applications are always being developed.

During the visit, Mr Lim asked if 3M's innovative culture extended only to researchers and scientists, and not to the rank and file. Corporate scientist Andrew Ouderkirk said: 'Everyone innovates in his own way.'

A real-life example was provided by Mr Soon Fook Heng, 30, who started 10 years ago as an operator at 3M. He is now an associate engineer, after obtaining - with the company's backing- an Institute of Technical Education qualification and a polytechnic diploma, with a university degree in mechanical engineering on the way. He is an active member of kaizen ('improvement' in Japanese) groups.

Workers who identify ways to improve manufacturing processes are encouraged to come forward. If management sees the issue as important, a kaizen group is formed, with workers taking up to five days off routine work to brainstorm, research and execute solutions.

'When I started, I was just a boy with no qualifications,' Mr Soon said. 'Now I have been promoted six times, and my responsibility is to find new leaders like me.'

Mr Lim praised 3M for showing that innovation does not happen by chance. 'I hope the day will come when 3M is not the most innovative company in Singapore,' he quipped. 'I hope one day you will be just average.'

This article was first published in The Straits Times.

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