Industrial Experts Pick the 10 Best Places to Work

California’s Apple Computer and Hewlett-Packard companies are among the 10 best manufacturing companies to work for, according to a survey of industry experts released Monday.

Commissioned by the Society of Manufacturing Engineers, the report focused on U.S. manufacturers that produce parts or products.

The report showed that the 10 companies shared a similar employee philosophy, society spokesman Tom Drozda said.

“Whether they organize them in teams, divisions, units or by functions--all 10 companies treat their employees, first and foremost, as unique individuals. Employees are expected to participate and contribute, and they are given the intellectual and personal freedom to do so,” Drozda said.

The 10 companies, which weren’t ranked, are:

- Apple Computer Inc., Cupertino, Calif.

- AT&T;, New York.

- Boeing Co., Seattle.

- Digital Equipment Corp., Maynard, Mass.

- Eastman Kodak Co., Rochester, N.Y.

- Ford Motor Co., Dearborn, Mich.

- General Electric Co., Fairfield, Conn.

- Hewlett-Packard Co., Palo Alto, Calif.

- IBM Corp., Armonk, N.Y.

- Westinghouse Electric Corp., Pittsburgh

The companies were evaluated in eight categories, including: pay and benefits; stability and job security; commitment to producing safe, high-quality products; location and climate; quality of supervision; continuing education and encouraged personal development; ambience and overall working conditions, and job challenges and rewards.