Small businesses are between a rock and a hard place in that they need to keep production going, but there are not enough workers to keep the manufacturing process going. The clients and resources are available to grow the business, but there are not enough hands to make it happen. Paying your employees overtime will only work for a time. To counter the worker shortage and keep productivity going, here are a couple of alternatives.
Source materials elsewhere
Small manufacturing businesses tend to do everything from scratch, but when there are not enough workers available, they need to start thinking about importing prefabricated components. Importing from China to UK is a very cost-effective way to incorporate quality products that are already completed into your business.
Although it might be daunting to import from China, using the services of Easy Imex will make the process seamless and reliable. They know the inner workings of the Chinese import-export business and know how to source reliable and sustainable suppliers who deliver quality products.
Once a reputable supplier is selected, they handle the entire process, from sampling to shipping and payment. You will be able to save time and money and produce more goods with less staff on hand.
Upskill your current staff
As the saying goes, the more you do, the more you can do. What it comes down to is upskilling your current staff. There is a lot of untapped potential in your staff and the only obstacle that stands in your way is training.
You will be the best judge of potential in your staff. Some of them are being held back by their current job descriptions. Take some time to find out what other interests and skills your staff have and tap into the potential they are not using. You would be surprised at how much you can do with the employees that are currently working.
Start to recruit better
Although there is a current worker shortage, there are still employees looking for employment. However, hiring practices need to change from specialist hiring to more diverse skill hiring. Before the shortage, employing someone with a specialist skill was crucial, but today you need someone more of a Jack-of-all-trades.
The more skills an employee has, the more areas he or she will be able to cover. As they grow in their role, there will naturally be areas where they are more skilled, but the immediate need is to keep the ship afloat.
Make use of shorter contracts
The worker shortage is not only driven by a lack of skills but also a lack of commitment to a particular job. Millennials find it hard to stick it out at one particular job for too long. They want to test the waters and see if a job is right for them. This can be used to your advantage as temporary contracts can be handed out much easier.
There will probably be more people who apply for manufacturing positions if they see that the position is only for a short period. It also allows you to see if the person has the skills before making a permanent hire.
Partner with educational institutions
The best place to get skilled workers is at the source. Many companies are turning to educational institutions to supply them with new candidates. The best part of this arrangement is that the workers you get can be paid less. They work more on an internship basis and can develop their skills in the process. You will also have a steady supply of employees and find the occasional candidate that is worth hiring permanently.