HR Strategies for Success in the Manufacturing Industry

The manufacturing industry has a unique set of challenges, from managing a diverse workforce to ensuring safety and compliance. But when it comes to figuring out your Human Resources (HR) strategies, how do you know where to start? Now more than ever, Human Resources plays a critical role in addressing these issues and driving success for your company. In this article, we'll explore effective HR strategies that can help your manufacturing business thrive.

Understanding the Role of HR in Manufacturing

The role of Human Resources in manufacturing goes beyond simple hiring and firing. HR is responsible for developing policies that enhance productivity, ensure safety, and promote a positive work environment. Here are some key roles of HR in the manufacturing industry:

Recruitment and Retention

The manufacturing industry employs more than 12.9 million Americans—and nearly 43% of them plan to leave their job in the next year, according to a recent survey. Chief among their concerns are flexible schedules and more paid time off.

For HR, this means that finding and keeping skilled team members is a constant challenge. A successful HR team needs to do more than just fill vacancies. It also needs to develop best practices for attracting and retaining the right talent.

Strategies for recruitment and retention can include offerings such as competitive wages, benefits, and opportunities for career growth. It’s also essential to make sure that new hires are aligned with your company’s values and have the right skills to succeed in a challenging work environment. This is especially critical in the manufacturing business, where some team members might need to operate equipment that requires special skills and knowledge.

Training and Development

Manufacturing jobs often require specialized skills. HR is responsible for providing ongoing training and development programs to ensure employees stay current with industry standards and technologies.

Team members with better training are also more likely to make decisions that are in line with the goals and values of your company. Investing in education today can help ensure that your team is equipped to help your business grow as quickly and smartly as possible. 

Safety and Compliance

In the manufacturing industry, many employees work with tools and machinery—which means safety is always the first priority. HR needs to ensure that all safety regulations are followed and that employees are trained in best practices. Compliance with labor laws and industry standards is also crucial. HR plays a key role in creating a safe workplace for employees and continuously adapting to the needs of your growing business. 

HR Best Practices for the Manufacturing Industry

From onboarding to employee training, effective HR practices can significantly impact the success of your manufacturing business. When building or optimizing your HR strategy, here are some best practices to consider:

Develop a Strong Onboarding Process

When you’re bringing someone new onto your team, it’s HR’s responsibility to make sure that the onboarding process is as effective and efficient as possible. A comprehensive onboarding process does more than just share basic information—it also helps new hires integrate smoothly into the company. Your process might include orientation sessions, safety training, and introductions to key team members. New hires should also learn about your company’s goals and values, as well as the expectations that your team members have for each other. Establishing a consistent process for onboarding now will allow you to build your team seamlessly as your business grows.  

Foster a Positive Workplace Culture

A positive workplace culture boosts morale and productivity. HR can play an important role here by implementing strategies that help create the best possible culture for your manufacturing business. For example, your HR team can encourage open communication among employees, which helps to reduce conflict and promote productivity. HR can also set up systems for recognizing employee achievements, giving team members a chance to celebrate each other and the work they do together. In addition, HR can play a role in crafting guidelines for work-life balance, promoting good mental health and even reducing turnover.

Maintaining a strong corporate culture isn’t always an easy task. Keep reading to learn tips for addressing common pitfalls.

Implement Performance Management Systems

Performance management systems help track employee progress and identify areas for improvement. To keep your teams working at their full potential, regular performance reviews and feedback sessions are essential. Collaborating with management, your HR team can develop best practices for collecting useful information about employee performance. Just as importantly, HR can also help employees learn how to integrate constructive feedback in a thoughtful and positive way.

Invest in Employee Training Programs

Technology never stops evolving, which means that continuous learning is vital in manufacturing. To keep your team engaged and informed, HR can offer training programs that focus on skill development, safety procedures, and new technologies. Training modules can be developed in-house or sourced from outside agencies with specialized knowledge. Beyond merely increasing productivity, employee education can also play a key role in morale by giving team members an opportunity to learn and grow in their roles.

Prioritize Employee Health and Safety

Nothing is more important than the safety and well-being of you and your team. HR can help create a safe working environment by adhering to safety standards and conducting regular safety audits. Working with management, HR can also help propose strategies for providing personal protective equipment (PPE) and ensuring that all employees are properly trained in its use.

Promote Diversity and Inclusion

A diverse workforce brings different perspectives and ideas, which helps drive success and innovation. Your HR team can promote diversity and inclusion by implementing fair hiring practices and offering diversity training programs. 

Leveraging Technology in HR

Technology can streamline HR processes and improve efficiency, saving your team time and money. Here are some ways to leverage technology in HR:

Use HR Software

HR software can automate administrative tasks such as payroll, benefits administration, and performance tracking. This allows HR professionals to focus on strategic initiatives instead of spending time on administrative tasks and paperwork. 

Implement an Applicant Tracking System (ATS)

An ATS can simplify the recruitment process by automating job postings, applicant screening, and interview scheduling. This ensures a more efficient hiring process and gives your HR team more time and energy to focus on people instead of paperwork. An ATS also allows you to quickly filter through a high volume of applications to find the candidates with the best qualifications for your roles. Want to learn even more? Read our handy guide to Applicant Tracking Systems for Small Businesses. 

Provide Online Training Platforms

Online training platforms offer flexibility and accessibility. Employees can complete training modules at their own pace, reducing downtime and increasing productivity. In addition, online training platforms are easy to update and customize, which means you can stay up to date with the best practices in your business and industry.

Looking Forward

Manufacturing is one of our most vital industries, and HR plays a critical role in its success. By implementing best practices such as strong onboarding processes, continuous training programs, and innovative technology, HR can drive productivity, ensure safety, and create a positive work environment for your business.

Investing in HR strategies is not just about compliance, either. It's about building a foundation for long-term success. By prioritizing your workforce's well-being and development, you can create a business that has what it takes to thrive and grow in the manufacturing industry.

How Justworks Can Help

Whether you’re looking to optimize your HR strategies or just beginning to build your team from the ground up, Justworks is here to help you succeed. Our user-friendly tools are designed for the unique needs and challenges of small businesses just like yours. 

Paying your team is simple with our intuitive Payroll software. For help with timekeeping, check out our streamlined Time Tracking solutions. Optimize your workforce data with our People Analytics system. And if you’re looking for a more comprehensive suite of tools to set up your HR team for success, click here to learn more about our powerful, easy-to-use Justworks PEO offering. Start here to find out more about how Justworks can drive success for your HR team.