From Volume 3 Issue 3 of Connected.
AMERICA IS DEALING WITH A LABOR SHORTAGE.
Participation in the labor force has been on a decline and is expected to continue to shrink, according to the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. The Great Resignation of 2022 saw more than 50 million workers quit their jobs. Now referred to as The Great Reshuffle, workers had transitioned to jobs that further utilized their talent, offered improved work-life balance and flexibility, provided greater compensation or had a stronger company culture.
Businesses are now struggling to find, train and retain skilled workers as job openings outpace available workers. For these businesses, the pressure is mounting to maintain productivity and meet customer demands. Based on our relationships and conversations with our customers as well as our efforts to fill positions throughout our own company, Kirby Risk understands these challenges first-hand.
Selling product alone won't help customers with the challenges associated with the current labor shortage. However, finding solutions to help alleviate the pain points our customers are experiencing through strong relationships, a knowledgeable team and a reserve of comprehensive services is at our forefront and the value-add we believe in.
ADDRESSING THE CHALLENGES HEAD-ON
The labor shortage has impacted nearly every aspect of our customers' operations. From manufacturing floors to quality control departments, finding qualified personnel has become increasingly difficult. This shortage has led to a cascade of issues, including increased workplace injuries, operational inefficiencies and delays in production.
For example, Aaron Read, General Manager of Intelligent Industry Solutions, encountered a customer who was struggling to find people to unload and unpack heavy raw parts. The weight of these parts posed a risk of injury, leading to a repeating cycle of hiring, injuries and staff shortages to an already short staff. Kirby Risk proposed an innovative solution: automating the unpacking process with a robot. This not only reduced the risk of injury but also ensured that the operation continued smoothly without the need for constant rehiring. By implementing the robot, they were able to free up their skilled workers for more critical tasks, thereby increasing overall efficiency.
AUTOMATING FOR EFFICIENCY AND SAFETY
In another case, our Automation Team assisted a facility struggling to retain employees for a monotonous, repetitive task. The work involved lifting and inserting small parts into a machine every few seconds—a job so tedious that employees would often quit after just two weeks. Kirby Risk provided a robotic solution that now performs the task with greater speed and precision, eliminating the need for a revolving door of temporary workers.
SECURING REMOTE ACCESS FOR EXPERTISE
The labor shortage isn't just affecting manual labor; it's also impacting specialized roles, such as engineering. In one instance, a plant struggled to hire local engineers, relying instead on subject matter experts spread across North America. These experts needed secure remote access to industrial control systems, but the plant's existing tools were inadequate and insecure. Kirby Risk stepped in to implement FactoryTalk Remote Access Software Solution, ensuring that their experts could continue to support operations from anywhere securely and efficiently.
BRIDGING THE SKILLS GAP WITH TRAINING
In addition to automation and remote solutions, Kirby Risk is dedicated to training the next generation of engineers and maintenance personnel. Through in-person classes, online courses and virtual instruction, we are helping to equip the workforce with the skills necessary to meet today's industrial challenges. Our commitment to education ensures that our customers have access to qualified professionals who are ready to step into critical roles.
PROVIDING SPECIZLIED SERVICES TO FILL GAPS
In many cases, our customers have turned to Kirby Risk for more direct support in filling labor gaps.
“We often hear that one of our customers has purchased specialized predictive maintenance equipment and spent the time and money to train one of their technicians to use it only to lose that technician to other employment, retirement or attrition,” says Marty Guy, Operations Manager of Mechanical Solutions and Service. “This usually results in the customer returning to Kirby Risk to perform these functions.”
One example started with an existing customer that receives components from third-party vendors, inspects the parts for conformance and then integrates them with their own finished products. The first service request to Kirby Risk initiated from a non-conformance issue identified with the third-party components. The customer did not have the resources to inspect more than 100 components, identify the products that had issues and perform the corrective actions to bring the parts into compliance, so Kirby Risk was brought in to assist.
“Our success on this project has led to many additional opportunities with this customer and others experiencing labor shortages,” Guy says. “Some of these projects have grown into weekly services that may include quality control inspections, component testing and troubleshooting, automatic lube installation and maintenance, non conforming parts remediation, mechanical and electrical component exchange and modification, and some specific customer requests.”
JOBSITE SOLUTIONS CREATE ADDITIONAL SAVINGS
From installation time to manpower hours, time on the jobsite is important. Kirby Risk offers wire solutions ranging from single cuts and parallels to large wire reels and a-frames. Customers can work with their local branch or account manager to place the orders and have them delivered right to the jobsite. If a customer has a larger need, then the project team can manage all the project details for the order, including cuts, order of stacking, reel type, timelines and delivery.
The Kirby Risk Project Storage Program allows for storage, staging and quick delivery of products directly to a jobsite when needed. The team takes care of busy work and eliminates unnecessary jobsite waste by unboxing material and placing products on rolling staging carts. These carts are labeled with a specific location on a jobsite where the materials will be used.
PARTNERING FOR SUCCESS
The current labor shortage presents significant challenges, but with Kirby Risk as your partner, these challenges are not insurmountable. We're here to offer solutions tailored to your specific needs, from automation and remote access to training and specialized services. Together, we can navigate the unique challenges you face and ensure that your business continues to thrive.