Semler’s changes, however, did not bring about the demise of the struggling industrial equipment manufacturer. Rather, they created a remarkably flexible organization whose sales grew from $35 million in 1990 to $100 million in 1996. Semco became one of the most sought-after employers in Brazil, manufacturing over two thousand different prod- ucts, including marine pumps, commercial dishwashers, digital scanners, filters, and mix- ing equipment, and diversified into banking and environmental services. Over 150 Fortune 500 companies visited Semco in an attempt to discover the secret of its success. Ricardo Semler’s accomplishments were all the more remarkable when considered against the back- drop of the erratic economy that all of Brazil operated under as the country weathered four currency devaluations, record unemployment, hyperinflation, and a virtual cessation of all industrial production.