We live in a fast-paced, ever-changing manufacturing landscape. Nowadays, the ability to retain a consistent and quality workforce while still adapting to fluctuating demands is crucial for maintaining competitiveness and ultimately, long-term success.
But what does this require from our workforces? Flexibility.
Manufacturers look to swiftly scale operations up or down in response to market trends, unexpected disruptions, and the unforeseen surges in demand. Such as when the occasional ‘Stanley Mug’ goes viral on TikTok increasing demand over the last 6 months by 215%.
Items like these don’t just appear out of thin air, the behind-the-scenes work and preparation to meet demand fluctuations, can actually be quite complex.
Caption: Stanley Mug goes viral surviving car fire. Posted by @danimarielettering on November 15th, 2023 generating 96+ million views (and counting).
Understanding the Need for Flexibility
The manufacturing industry is no stranger to volatility and fluctuations can and do significantly impact production schedules and workforce requirements, leaving the burden on operations managers to quickly adjust their staffing requirements to match. Traditional staffing models struggle to keep pace with changing demand. Not only this, oftentimes their process of filling slots does not include advance vetting, 24/7 support, or directly matching worker skills to the requirements—resulting in pairing the wrong person for the wrong job.
Inefficiency, increased costs, and missed opportunities are a few ways we can define these situations.
But how can we overcome them? Through change and optimization.
Strategies for Building a Flexible Workforce
1. Leveraging Technology
If we can 3D print food in 2024, we can certainly progress in how we support the manufacturing workforce.
Advancements in technology, particularly in automation and digital tools, can significantly enhance worker reliability, quality and flexibility. Technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning can augment human capabilities, allowing for more dynamic responses in real time to last minute changes in demand. Automate where possible and provide the human touch, where it’s needed most.
2. Flexible Staffing Models
Traditional staffing models often lack the agility needed to respond to sudden changes in demand. Adopting more flexible solutions can help manufacturers better manage workforce fluctuations, without the need to be behind their desktop at 11:00pm on a Sunday night backfilling shifts that start in 6 hours. Find solutions that partner with you to relieve the burden of surges in demand, while still ensuring that you get reliable and quality workers—they do in fact exist! Yes, that's a plug.
While there are many models that exist on the market, are they actually worthwhile? We’d argue no.
Advanced models provide the ability for workers to more flexibly determine work schedules, while ensuring you are always fully staffed with trained and reliable individuals who show up prepared. That’s a classic win, win situation.
3. Strategic Partnerships and Outsourcing
Forming strategic partnerships and leveraging the best and most innovative outsourcing opportunities is a giant step forward in the flexibility road. We can’t look at the challenges head on and slap some staffing solutions on like a bandaid, we must consider the impact of a well rounded approach and how we can provide operational excellence.
The goal? Provide piece of mind by pairing workers that are reliable, punctual and prepared for the job.
Conclusions
Building a flexible workforce in manufacturing is essential for the complexities of modern production. By adopting the new and advanced solutions, being open to change, and forming strategic partnerships, manufacturers can create a labor force capable of meeting their needs.
With Traba, we aim to transform our industry that is stuck in outdated staffing models.
Why? Simply put—we’ve got a better one.
Learn more about how Traba can create a more reliable (and flexible) manufacturing workforce
