Downers Grove

The "Best Book Publishing Companies to Work For" list is Book Business’ annual ranking of companies that embody the philosophy that a company’s employees are the key to its success, and that employee happiness translates to a more motivated, productive workplace. Many companies on the list show that being a great company isn’t just about offering an attractive benefits package (though that certainly helps). The companies that made this year’s list create environments where employees are valued and respected professionally, and they also work to help enhance employees’ personal lives. Whether it’s through profit sharing, ample paid time off, telecommuting options, childcare services, fitness facilities, adoption assistance or pet-friendly policies, these companies go the extra mile to keep their employees happy—and it shows.

When it comes to improving the supply chain function in book publishing, the watchword is communication—between various components of the chain, and especially between manufacturing, distribution and retail. Saying this, however, is not saying nearly enough, as the quality of information and the way it’s used matter just as much as making the right connections. “Communication is the No. 1 supply chain issue,” says Rich Eby, director of inbound distribution at Thomson Learning, the Stamford, Conn.-based provider of educational, training and reference books for academic and corporate customers. For Thomson, that means anticipating shipments from manufacturers around the world for distribution in the