WASI has one aim – satisfied customers

To achieve this aim we have embedded fundamental values into the company philosophy. Emancipation, equal status and equal treatment are the highest precepts. Nobody is favoured or disadvantaged because of sex, religion, background or nationality. Privileges are only granted on the basis of performance and behaviour. We live and work according to the following values and guidelines:

Trust

We trust in the honesty and seriousness of our employees, colleagues, customers and suppliers.

Professionalism

We act and think professionally: We are all anxious to optimize our tools and processes continuously. At the same time we question the established and are open to changes in order to be able to offer best performances with perfect equipped employees.

Constructive communications

We ensure a direct information flow without any loss of time. There are no taboo topics. Communication for us has the aim to provide ideal solutions as quick as possible.

Honesty

We are sincere and honest among ourselves as well as with our customers and suppliers. We consider criticism and conflicts  to be taken as chance for personal development and improvement of customer relations.

Reliability

Commitments are carefully considered so we are able to keep our promises. We place value upon having understandable motives so our actions are predictable.

Based on these values and guidelines we examine our daily thinking and acting. Every single one of us is called to live these values and thereby set an example, in this way these values take more and more effect. We are all obliged to defend them. These values are the fundamental pillars of our company culture. Our own development as well as development and growth of the company are based on these values.

Helpful and cooperative team

The most valuable asset of WASI is the employees. They ensure the company's business success day in and day out. Wagener & Simon WASI is a regionally rooted company with international orientation: All in all, WASI unites employees from nine different nations under one roof. The average age at WASI is about 37 years. The 23 apprentices are trained on the job and are integrated in daily business to have them well prepared for working life.

The level of team spirit is different from department to department. No matter if between each other, during and after work or with managers, there are several different possibilities and ways of communication, asking questions, sweeping ideas and contributing ones part to success. We are const

antly working to strengthen solidarity by means of mutual events and improved structures. During the process of growth in the past few years many new employees have joined the team, which mainly consists of long-term employees. Therefore, team building and improving solidarity are not completed, but rather a process which is worked on constantly.

Emancipation, equal status and equal treatment through all levels

Equal status is a question of know-how, competence, performance, developmental potential and career-will. The current percentage of women in leading position from management to team leader is about 20%.

Religious affiliation, colour of skin, nationality, age, hobbies or sexual orientation have no effect on assessment of employees and their working climate at WASI.

Especially this varied mixture of employees is the secret of the WASI team.

Motivated and performance-related management team

We place great value upon the communication of all employees cross-departmental and through all hierarchy levels in order to solve conflicts and problems and promote business. The management team, 40 years old on average, is set to achieve quick and unautocratic decisions and to cooperate with all colleagues day by day.

Almost all managers have been working for WASI for many years and have a lot of experience and knowledge in the field of stainless steel fasteners. More than 50% of the management team have started at WASI in the position of an office worker and worked their way up to their current positions. Sustainable growth always opens new chances for team leader and management positions. So we constantly offer development opportunities for motivated, efficiency-orientated employees that are willing to make progress with WASI.

There are short ways for decisions. New ideas are always welcome and put into action, if possible. That makes it possible to optimize processes and improve on customer satisfaction quickly.

The change from a wholesale trade for stainless steel fasteners into a global system partner for stainless steel fasteners have made it necessary to continuously improve management culture due to a transparent communication through all hierarchy levels and by integrating all employees into this process of change.

Target agreements with financial incentives, regularly one-to-one meetings with personnel as well as team meetings are giving WASIans a clear direction for cooperation and development. WASI works according to the WASI process model. This process model serves to improve communication and is the basis for further improvements, precise guidance and cross-departmental success. The WASI process model offers employees precise information about processes, responsibilities and correlations.

Good and convenient working atmosphere

Working atmosphere is improving continuously. Big changes and the accomplishment of challenges and tasks have helped to strengthen motivation of all employees and provide good atmosphere.

WASI manager and employees are jointly responsible – an important fact for good atmosphere. This is reflected in various information events, in internal and external communication media, in our project called “WASI exchange of ideas”, where employees can contribute ideas for improvement, as well as in events and leisure activities, e.g. a dragonboat race and our WASI marathon team.

“You cannot make an omelette without breaking eggs!” There is still potential for improvement and the management team is working on it continuously.

Transparent communication beyond hierarchical levels

“It is impossible not to communicate!” But communication has many aspects. Especially in a long-term change process, such as WASI is going through, communication is essential to reach all employees and achieve common understanding of our aims. WASI offers several different possibilities for employees to keep themselves informed, to ask questions and to contribute improvements:

WASI im Wandel - WASI in the course of change

• Weekly employee newsletter for exchange of information

Confidential committee / company meeting

• Team for sensitive questions or matters of trust
• Providing all employees with information about up-to-date figures, situation, aims, prospects and visions twice a year.
• Organizing special offers such as reduced entry fee to public swimming pools.

WASI exchange of ideas

• Institution to contribute ideas for improvement

Round table

• Direct exchange with management in small groups concerning topics, that are important to employees.

Team meetings

• Exchange in the departments and areas to discuss daily business and decide about cross-departmental subjects and matters.

Functional meetings

• Cross-departmental exchange concerning purchase, sales, logistics and customer service etc.

Intranet

• In process of planning at the moment

Summer parties and Christmas celebrations

• Informal exchange with all employees

There is always room for improvement. But we are getting closer and closer to a state of transparent communication and intensive exchange between all levels. All WASIans are in the same boat, which means that every single employee has to contribute his part to the communication.

Interesting projects and special tasks

As in many companies change process at WASI is an ongoing process.

Because of ambitious business aims there are always several interesting tasks and projects next to daily business. Employees with know-how and expertise, which are willing to make progress, will find several possibilities to realise their full potential and to advance WASI. Taking responsibilities at WASI is not a question of position. Projects and special tasks offer different facets for personal development.

Change processes and growth have lead to more bureaucracy at some points. But this secures business processes and creates transparency as well as standardized processes. On the other hand this creates basic conditions for daily business and offers new fields for activity.

Workload of the teams and departments is different according to area of tasks and responsibilities as well as motivation of the employees.

Further education for everybody

WASI provides professional training designed to meet people’s needs. On the one hand there are fully individual trainings to support employees with their individual tasks. On the other hand there are workshops for the use of software, to improve leading culture, to learn foreign languages as well as sales- and phone trainings.

In the one-to-one meetings with personnel, which take place once a year, we identify training needs and try to put them into action within the same year.

Job-accompanying course of studies are not only offered to our apprentices. Several professionals are studying alongside their work.

What we earn

Fair and motivating salaries are our declared aim. Performance-related payment consists of fixed and variable parts. Therefore every employee has the chance to better his salary by achieving target agreements. Every year in the one-to-one meetings with personnel performance and payment are discussed. Annual holiday and Christmas allowance are paid if possible. Salaries are paid in time at the end of the month.

Additionally there are special incentives for milestones, such as sales and gross yield records, and for sales competitions, subsidies for lunch in the canteen, common events, capital-forming benefits and staff discount for some companies of the Würth Group.

Different from legal regulations WASI employees are granted 30 days holiday.

Good working conditions with own canteen

According to the historical background of building and premises, the offices are equipped as convenient as possible. We have invested in workplaces and equipped and furnished them according to individual requirements of our employees.

The location Emil-Wagener-Straße has been painted and redecorated, many pictures and plants have been placed in the offices, outdoor facilities and safety devices were renewed,

basic cleaning has been taken into action and sun shields were installed. Therewith, working conditions have improved and at the same time the charm of the old building - the former tramway depot - has been preserved. 

The canteen is arranged according to feng shui standards and offers employees different options to satisfy their hunger. In the morning you will find sandwiches in the canteen – also individual variations. You can order scrambled or fried eggs. At lunchtime the canteen offers different warm meals as well as an assortment of salads. Meals such as schnitzel and chips are also prepared by request. Additionally the canteen serves small snacks, desserts, sweets and cold beverages.

Next to the canteen is a table football, which is often used for smaller competitions amongst colleagues or departments.

Work-life-balance / family-friendliness

By investing in IT, logistics and other infrastructure important pillars for growth but also to manage the increasing volume of work have been implemented. The improvement of processes and workflow helps every employee to reduce stress and manage increasing volume of work.

For years WASI has been working with trusted flexitime, which helps to coordinate work and free time. Different models with flexible working-hours help reconciling family and work. Further support in the form of childcare is in process of planning. A balanced diet with healthy breakfast and warm meals for lunch is offered by our canteen.

The planning of last minute vacations is possible depending on department and work schedule as well as longer holidays.

 Company-facilitated sports activities are in progress of planning.