In years past, prospective workers could simply walk into a manufacturing firm, ask for a job and get to work. Today, that is more of a fanciful story than reality.
Current employees are paid for what they know, and the more the better. Manufacturing is a highly skilled, nuanced profession that requires training and expertise to perform the jobs safely and effectively. Employees who lack these traits could find themselves in hazardous situations, which increases the need for comprehensive workers comp and property and casualty insurance.
Thankfully, there are a number of solutions for small- to medium-sized enterprises to find adequate staff members in a cost-effective manner. Ideally, this could help an organization save money while simultaneously increasing profits, a win-win for everybody involved. In order to get started, it may be beneficial to pay attention to a few tips and tricks to find quality employees and better educate those who are already on board.
Always keep an emphasis on learning
The current environment for manufacturing firms is challenging, and that means the most successful ones often have the most talented, intelligent and motivated employees. These staff members can also relieve some of the stress placed on a risk management plan, as they could be less likely to create hazardous conditions in the workplace.
Recently, former Gov. Haley Barbour, of Mississippi, and former Gov. Evan Bayh, of Indiana, spoke at the University of Virginia about issues encountered by manufacturing firms, according to IndustryWeek. The politicians explained the changing environment facing this industry, and highlighted the need for skilled employees.
"Thirty years ago, you could drop out of high school, go to a local auto plant or a local steel mill and have a pretty good standard of living," Bayh stated at the university, IndustryWeek reported. "That was doable. Not today. Today, you get paid for what you know."
Barbour added that skills training early on in a person's career will be more helpful, the news source noted. This can be highly specialized, and doesn't necessarily need to take place at a college or university. Overall, innovation is one of the most important factors, and manufacturing firms should always invest in training employees, educating talent and finding the most qualified people for the job.
Labor shortage may be related to training
Many organizations may feel that there is a shortage of skilled labor out there. This may be true, but it could also be related to a lack of training programs and a reluctance for qualified workers to accept pay below market value.
According to The Wall Street Journal, many college students have begun to pursue vocational jobs following graduation, but many companies don't invest in proper training programs like they once used to. In the U.S. some people often have to chase unpaid internships and other less-than-desirable opportunities simply to get experience in the field. This isn't ideal, and there could be steps in place in the workforce to get novice employees up to speed.
In order to acquire the best possible talent, manufacturing firms could take several creative steps. The Wall Street Journal noted that one could be to work with education providers. Just because their aren't any candidates at the moment doesn't mean none will appear, and programs can encourage growth before they ever reach school.
Community colleges can partner with organizations to offer opportunities after graduation, and these changes could inspire more people to enroll. In addition, the apprenticeship model could make a return. These workers would be paid less at the start, but also receive the needed training to become most effective. Then, the organization can promote from within to encourage growth in the company.
