It’s Time to Extend Workforce Management Tools to the Industrial Frontline

There is an accelerating workforce crisis that is disrupting the entire manufacturing industry, and is placing increased pressure on manufacturers and creating significant operational problems. The sector that was already stressed with a tight labor market, rapidly retiring baby-boomer generation, and the growing skills gap is now facing an increasingly unpredictable and diverse workforce.

As a result, its becoming more and more difficult to meet safety or quality standards, or production goals.

The reality is that this problem is not going away. According to a 2021 study by Deloitte, 77% of surveyed manufacturers say they will have ongoing difficulties in attracting and retaining workers beyond 2022.

The Great Resignation in manufacturing has created a permanent shift, and manufacturers must begin to think about adapting their hiring, onboarding, and training processes to support a more flexible, future workforce in manufacturing.

A critical requirement to make this a reality is a digitally connected workforce and access to data about the work being done. More specifically, real-time workforce intelligence that can provide insights into training, guidance, and support needs, as well as provide real, actionable insights into work process improvements.