When setting up manufacturing plants, you must carefully consider hiring the right people. This is skill-intensive work requiring highly qualified individuals. There are many machines involved, and any slight mistake could lead to disaster.
Every task, from arm robotic polishing to welding or picking and placing, needs to be handled by trained experts.
There’s no room for error. So, how do you hire workers at this level?
What qualities should you look for when gauging their qualifications? Here are some ways to get it right.
Skills and Qualification Levels
Where heavy machinery is concerned, you must exercise caution during hiring.
The team handling these tasks must demonstrate top-tier skills and qualifications. This will help you match them to the right roles. Hiring the wrong person for a job is a key reason for past workplace accidents.
The best approach is to give candidates practical tests. Don’t rely solely on paper qualifications. The hiring process should be thorough—there’s a lot at stake.
The Positions Available
Before hiring, you need a clear image of your needs. What positions urgently require filling?
How many workers do you need? Should you increase staff, or would a smaller team be more efficient?
Hiring should be based on necessity, not a whim, as onboarding and training are costly. Before advertising any position, ensure there’s a genuine need for that role to be filled.
Salary Demands
You might set a salary range in the job listing. But understand that securing top talent might require flexibility.
Skilled workers often demand higher wages and might negotiate upward. If their skills match your needs, be prepared to adjust your salary cap. Quality employees are rare. When one comes your way, don’t miss out.
Labor Laws
Labor laws exist to protect employees from exploitation. You must be well-versed in relevant laws to avoid legal issues.
Employers often face trouble due to ignorance of basic labor laws. Disputes of this nature can be costly and might even bring down your company.
Many businesses have collapsed after large payouts from lawsuits.
Safety Precautions
Safety in manufacturing plants involves responsibilities on both sides. Employers must provide protective gear like helmets and gloves.
Install emergency safety buttons for quick machine shutdowns in accidents.
Employees must know how to operate machinery responsibly. If someone gets injured on duty, you’ll be responsible for compensation, which can be expensive.
Interpersonal Skills
Manufacturing plants typically have hundreds of workers sharing space. Good interpersonal skills are crucial because teamwork is essential.
Clear communication is the backbone of efficiency.
Every hire should be able to understand instructions and communicate effectively with co-workers.
First Time Manufacturing Plants Owner?
Setting up a manufacturing plant is a huge endeavor, particularly if you’re starting your own business.
How well (or not) you hire will make or break the success of your venture. But here’s the problem:
Most advice out there assumes that you’re already an established business with an HR department.
No one talks about how hiring must be approached differently as a start-up founder without specific HR knowledge in relation to hiring line workers for a manufacturing plant.
Challenges are Common
When everything’s new, and you don’t yet know the specific needs of this segment, it can be difficult to know which roles are needed to get started and begin building.
You don’t just need “bodies”. You need skilled people who have experience working with machines, safety precautions, and as a team member simultaneously!
But where do you find these people? It often seems like normal small company hiring advice doesn’t apply; you’re not sure how to tweak it appropriately for your industry.
Start by focusing on industry-specific tips and tools for entrepreneurs entering this unique segment of entrepreneurship
Don’t Compromise on Skill Set
As a new business owner, you’re probably working with a tight budget. However, this doesn’t mean you should necessarily compromise on your skill set.
You can get a better feel for someone’s capabilities through practical tests during an interview than from a resume.
Many first-time business owners make the mistake of hiring based on what they read – and end up with someone who is entirely lacking in the kind of real-world experience they require.
Incorporating examples like this and talking about how to use real-world testing to your advantage can help you save your new clients from themselves
Know your Laws
Another challenge is knowing labor laws. Big companies have departments for that!
But when you’re a new business owner, you’re usually the president, HR director… and janitor, too.
It’s easy to overlook labor laws. Not doing it right can also be fatal to your business. We need to pay more attention to simple things and resources to make sure we do them right.
Manage Safety
Safety is another area where new business owners struggle. They think buying insurance covers it all!
But in manufacturing there’s so much more that needs addressed on a regular basis; training, gear, protocol.
You must understand safety isn’t something you have to worry about paying fines for. On the contrary, being proactive about safety increases productivity and decreases turnover as well.
Focus on Soft Skills
Finally, don’t forget about the “soft” skills.
We see new manufacturers hire for the hard skills and forget that these folks will have to work together.
If we can help new owners know how to look for communication skills coupled with technical ability, that alone would be incredibly impactful.
The Final Note!
Hiring a manufacturing plant is one of the most complex tasks an employer can face.
The success of your business heavily depends on hiring the right people. Plan carefully to increase your chances of finding qualified workers.
Read Also:
