Company: Herman Miller, Zeeland, MI
Company Description: Herman Miller works for a better world around you—with inventive designs, technologies, and related services that improve the human experience wherever people work, heal, learn, and live. Its curiosity, ingenuity, and design excellence create award-winning products and services, resulting in more than $1.6 billion in revenue in fiscal 2011
Nomination Category: Company / Organization Categories
Nomination Sub Category: Company of the Year - Consumer Products - Durables

Nomination Title: Herman Miller

Tell the story about what this nominated organization achieved since January 1 2011 (up to 500 words). Focus on specific accomplishments, and relate these accomplishments to past performance or industry norms. Be sure to mention obstacles overcome, innovations or discoveries made, and outcomes:

Herman Miller is a 100-year-old-plus company that places great importance on design, the environment, community service, and the health and well-being of our customers and our employees. In the last few years the company has refocused on design, innovation and expansion into new markets. All of these efforts are working and the company had great revenue growth in 2011.

Net sales in fiscal year 2011 were $1.6 billion, reflecting a year-over-year increase of 25.1%

IN 2011, the company implemented a “Segment & Lead” Strategy:

o creating a new business segment called ‘Specialty and Consumer” to focus on the company’s rich design and innovation legacy. A new ‘Herman Miller Collection” was introduced in December 2011
o The company also expanded their international segment and for 2011, orders and shipments were the highest in the company’s history.
o The company’s Healthcare segment posted a double digit increase.
o The North American Office furniture segment also increased, aided by the June 2011 product launch of SAYL seating, the company’s Thrive Portfolio of Ergonomic tools and the Canvas Office System.

“ Said CEO Brian Walker” These are positive signs that the core Herman Miller capability of problem-solving design remains a competitive advantage and a source of differentiation and growth.

Responsible Company

“We are incredibly proud to have once again been named to the Dow Jones Sustainability World Index – an international stock portfolio derived from the evaluation of the world’s 2,500 largest companies using economic, environmental, and social criteria. This is our eighth consecutive year in the Index – an achievement we believe reflects our long-standing commitment to business practices that drive both solid financial performance and environmental advocacy.”

Going Forward :

For the full fiscal year, net sales were $1,649.2 million.

Brian Walker, Chief Executive Officer, stated, "We finished the fiscal year in strong fashion behind continued strength in customer demand and improved operating leverage. Net sales in the quarter marked our fourth consecutive period of double-digit percentage growth and capped the largest full-year sales increase in our company's history. This recovery complements a host of milestones we achieved this year; all of which provide momentum as we begin fiscal 2012."

Mr. Walker concluded, "There are many examples throughout our corporate history where innovative thinking and teamwork helped us weather times of challenge - only to emerge a stronger, more capable organization. I believe this is where we are today as a company. We accomplished a range of objectives in this year of economic recovery, from the launch of exciting new products to advances in how and where we do business. Importantly, all of this was achieved through the hard work and dedication of our employees, who understand the power of working together. I'm proud of these accomplishments, and look forward to seeing us reach even greater heights in the coming year."

Upload a collection of supporting files and web addresses to our server to provide more background information to the judges. You may upload any number of attachments and URLs through the "Add Attachments, Videos, or Links to This Entry" link above. 

http://www.hermanmiller.com/content/dam/hermanmiller/documents/investors/Conference_Call_Script_Q1_12_Final.pdf
http://www.hermanmiller.com/about-us/press/press-releases/all/herman-miller-reports-strong-finish-to-fy2011-improved-operating-leverage-in-the-fourth-quarter.html
http://www.hermanmiller.com/about-us/who-is-herman-miller/our-story/overview.html
http://www.hermanmiller.com/content/hermanmiller/english/about-us/who-is-herman-miller/awards-and-recognition/company.html
http://www.hermanmiller.com/content/dam/hermanmiller/documents/a_better_world/2011_Better_World_Report_Summary.pdf

Provide a brief (up to 100 words) biography about the leader of this nominated organization:

Since 2004, Mr. Walker has served as President and Chief Executive Officer of the Company. Previously, he held other executive leadership positions with the Company having served as the Chief Operating Officer of Herman Miller Inc., President of Herman Miller North America and Chief Financial Officer. Mr. Walker is a Certified Public Accountant and serves on the Detroit Board of Directors of the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago. He has served in Briggs & Stratton Corporation.