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In the manufacturing world, one of the biggest obstacles is employee turnover. This can occur for a variety of reasons in any manufacturing environment. The leading causes of poor employee retention rates in manufacturing include below average compensation, lack of upward career mobility, boredom with job tasks, and a negative corporate culture. Fortunately, these are all conditions that can be corrected, with a strategy for maintaining high quality through better employee retention.

The importance of manufacturing employee engagement

Manufacturing is not unlike other forms of business, in that it takes a loyal and skilled workforce to maintain high levels of production and quality. Employees should always been seen as an important investment in your business rate of return – not simply “warm bodies” to fill empty and meaningless assignments. When employees feel valued and have access to opportunities to grow in their careers, they tend to be much more productive and stick around for long term manufacturing success.

How can you keep manufacturing employees on board?

There are a number of methods for helping to maintain employee engagement and boost productivity in a manufacturing setting. Use some or all of these tips for keeping employees encouraged and working up to full capacity for the long run.

  1. Open communication – Your manufacturing employees work hard for you every day. They put in long hours and they work under difficult conditions at times. Oftentimes, their needs and concerns go unheard. This leads to turnover. Instead, create a system for meeting with your employees, gathering valuable ideas, and showing respect to the people who make your business the success it is.
  2. Provide incentives – A workplace that fosters employee loyalty is one in which employees have a reason to work hard and reach career goals. Every manufacturing plant needs a performance review system and pay for performance incentives. Get your management team on board and teach them how to thank employees regularly for a job well done.
  3. Evaluate compensation – Staying competitive in the manufacturing industry requires employees with top level skills. Oftentimes, employees who have been on the job for at least a year will take when they’ve learned at your business and go elsewhere in the quest for higher wages and benefits. Take the time to measure how well you stack up in terms of compensation to keep your best employees on board.
  4. Establish work-life balance – A major quest that many employees have today is that of true work and life balance. Manufacturing can make this difficult, particularly during peak production cycles. Instead of overworked employees, why not simply bring on temporary manufacturing workers to create more work life balance for your employees?
  5. Careful onboarding –  A key indicator of successful manufacturing employees is matching their skills to the right assignment from day one. Use care when hiring and onboarding new employees. Create a positive work environment and give them all the resources they need to be successful on the job.

By using these tips, your manufacturing turnover should start to slow down. Take the time to work with a recruitment agency to recruit and onboard new hires. Provide opportunities for career development in a corporate culture that honors employee talents. If you are looking for staffing agencies in Chicago, contact Davis Staffing today.