The ideas factory

Three brothers launched MAS Holdings in 1987. From the start, the siblings wanted to build a company that would be different from the negative perceptions that existed about the apparel industry. Their goal was to run an ethical textile business that treated people and the planet the right way – emphasizing trust, respect and collaborative partnerships: rare commodities in the sector during the 1980s.

Today, MAS Holdings' purpose is to be a to be a 'changemaker', enabling dreams and enriching the fabric of life on our planet. "It's about having the courage to face challenges head on and to do what it takes to create meaningful change – that's what drives us at MAS" said Sid.

The business has established a set of strong values, including 'freedom with accountability'. This value gives people the freedom to innovate and act on what they believe is right, and take responsibility for their work – but without fearing negative consequences should ideas fail.

With over 110,000 employees worldwide, keeping track of new ideas can be a daunting task. The business needed a structured system to monitor activities, measure progress and achieve its goals.

"There's a business rationale for everything we do. Everything we work on needs to have some kind of business impact as well as a positive effect on our people and planet. But for us, the challenge of managing everything relates to the size of our organization. How can we communicate and rollout our new ideas, seek agreement from stakeholders, and get the best out of our people?"

MAS Holdings has created a culture that nurtures new ideas and provided the resources and leaders needed to bring those ideas to life. And to encourage innovation, the business has introduced programs that make it easier for employees to share ideas with managers.

The company also has measurement systems and targets for its programs, helping the business chart its progress, stay on track and rate its own performance. The backbone to the company's operations is the MAS Operating System. Since launching over a decade ago, the system has expanded from focusing on manufacturing to cover every area of the company's operations. The system also empowers employees to find better ways of working and build sustainability into the company's processes.

Beyond technology, good old-fashioned meetings still play an important role: "We gather our senior people together to discuss initiatives and progress. We also have created opportunities and spaces that enable everyone to connect, collaborate and share ideas."