The Satellite Review Magazine The Satellite Review Magazine Vol 3 | Page 36

HIRING SKILLED
TECHNICIANS

Hiring skilled technicians for the
new era of the supply chain
By Bob Douglas

Service Manager, Westfalia Technologies, Inc.

ne of the biggest challenges facing supply chain
manufacturers today is hiring skilled workers.
According to the 2016 Material Handling Institute
(MHI) Industry Report, more than half of respondents (50
percent) answered that hiring and retaining a skilled workforce was the No. 1 challenge in their supply chains. This
report also notes that approximately 600,000 manufacturing
jobs in the U.S. are left unfilled due to a lack of qualified
workers.

O

2. Look for candidates with the right skillsets
- and natural interests.

As companies look to hire new supply chain technicians to
meet their growing needs, these three tips can help steer
them in the right direction:

3. Provide the proper training materials and
support.

1. Get involved in the recruiting scene.
To truly overcome the talent shortage, manufacturers
should get involved in the recruiting process as early as
possible, sometimes as early as the high school level.
Those employers that actively mentor potential candidates
from high school to technical degrees often enjoy a much
higher success rate in finding and retaining high-quality
employees.

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More often than not, supply chain technicians who have
always had an interest in their field are those who will excel
in their line of work. In addition to mechanical and electrical troubleshooting, computer skills are also a necessity
as today’s automation typically interfaces with software like
warehouse execution systems - not just the equipment itself.

Take the time to build a comprehensive training program
for your technicians. The more people in the know about
best practices, maintenance procedures and how the
equipment works from the very beginning, the better that
knowledge is sustained.
As the talent gap continues to grow and companies turn
to warehouse automation and technology, now is the time
to take an active role in preparing the next generation of
supply chain workers. The future of your company depends
on it!

www.WestfaliaUSA.com

www. WestfaliaUSA.com

The Satellite Review

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