Engaging employees in the manufacturing sector can turn challenges into opportunities for growth and improvement. Creating a work environment where every team member feels valued and motivated is essential for enhancing productivity, safety, and overall business performance. 

Explore practical and effective strategies in this article to boost employee engagement in manufacturing and drive you operations to new heights.

Why Employee Engagement in Manufacturing is so Important

Employee engagement is critical for manufacturing companies, as it directly impacts productivity, safety, and profitability. According to a survey by Speakap, engaged manufacturing workers are 70% more productive, 78% safer, and 44% more profitable than unengaged workers.

However, employee engagement in the manufacturing industry is particularly challenging. A report by Workday found that the employee engagement rate within the manufacturing industry is one of the lowest across all industries, at just 34%. This is significantly lower than the global average of 20% engaged employees.

9 Strategies to Improve Employee Engagement in Manufacturing

#1: Invest in Smart Technology

Investing in smart manufacturing technology, such as Shoplogix’s smart factory suite, can be a powerful way to boost employee engagement in the industry. Shoplogix’s solutions provide connectivity to real-time data and live insights that empower you to take action on your shop floor. This allows manufacturers to make data-driven decisions that can improve productivity, safety, and cost-effectiveness – the key drivers of employee engagement.

By equipping employees with the right technology tools, manufacturers can give them more control, visibility, and a sense of empowerment over their work. This can lead to increased job satisfaction, pride in their contributions, and a stronger emotional connection to the company’s success.

#2: Open Communication

Strategies for Fostering a Culture of Open Communication in Manufacturing:

• Prioritize honesty, openness, and mutual respect in the workplace
  • This helps boost employee well-being and engagement
  • Addresses the rumor mill and promotes transparency

• Ensure leaders keep employees informed and connected to the bigger picture
  • Managers should maintain an open-door policy
  • Regularly provide feedback, updates, and actively listen to employee concerns and ideas

• Encourage employee contribution and collaboration
  • Workers should feel comfortable raising issues and sharing suggestions with decision-makers

• Implement the right communication channels for your workforce
  • Ensure channels suit how your employees operate and connect everyone

• Leaders must be willing to:
  •    – Embrace feedback, even if critical
  • Model desired communication behaviors
  • Provide training in effective communication skills

By prioritizing transparency, collaboration, and continuous learning, manufacturers can foster a culture of open communication that boosts engagement and performance.

#3: Recognize Your Employees for Their Contributions

Recognizing employees for their hard work is a powerful way to boost engagement and morale. Everyone appreciates being acknowledged for doing a great job. To determine the best recognition methods, managers should have open conversations with their teams. Understand how individuals prefer to be recognized – whether through public praise, private feedback, peer-to-peer acknowledgment, or manager appreciation.

When workers know their contributions are appreciated, they’re more likely to stay engaged and committed to the company’s success. Recognizing achievements is a simple yet powerful way to boost morale and drive continuous improvement.

#4: Embrace Flexible Work Arrangements

Providing flexible work options, whenever feasible, can be a powerful way to boost employee engagement in manufacturing. This could include flexible hours, shift swapping, or compressed schedules. By offering this level of flexibility, you can accommodate your team’s needs without compromising productivity or quality.

Many manufacturing employees value the ability to have some control over their schedules and work-life balance. Implementing flexible arrangements demonstrates that you trust your workers and are willing to adapt to their preferences. This can go a long way in making them feel valued and engaged.

Of course, the specific flexible options you offer will depend on the nature of your operations. But the key is to have an open dialogue with your team to understand their needs and find creative solutions that work for both the employees and the business.

By embracing flexibility wherever possible, you can create a more supportive and empowering work environment. This, in turn, can lead to increased job satisfaction, reduced turnover, and a more motivated, productive workforce.

#5: Implement Training and Career Development Programs

Investing in your workforce’s growth and advancement is key to boosting engagement. Implement the following strategies:

• Offer comprehensive training to help employees develop new skills and improve performance
• Provide clear career pathways that allow for internal promotion and job enrichment
• Encourage a culture of continuous improvement by:
  • Soliciting employee feedback
  • Implementing worker suggestions
  • Celebrating incremental progress

This demonstrates your commitment to your team’s long-term success, empowering them to take an active role in shaping the company’s future. When employees feel supported and heard, they become more engaged and invested in the organization’s success.

#6: Create Opportunities for Outside the Workplace

Providing opportunities for employees to socialize and bond outside of work can be a powerful way to boost engagement. Organizing social activities and shared experiences helps build relationships across all levels of the organization. When people have the chance to get to know one another on a personal level, it fosters a stronger sense of community and camaraderie. This can improve teamwork, cross-functional alignment, and overall employee experience.

Consider initiatives like book clubs or other interest-based groups that give people another way to engage with their colleagues in a more casual, social setting. These types of programs not only strengthen interpersonal connections but can also support strategic and career development goals. By creating a culture where employees feel connected to one another, you can cultivate a more motivated, collaborative, and invested workforce.

#7: Let Employees Know How Their Work Connects to the Company Goals

Ensure that employees grasp the link between their individual roles and the broader objectives of the company. When they see the significance of their work in achieving these goals, their jobs transform into a mission with purpose and impact. Involve them in meaningful business challenges, encouraging them to propose solutions. By understanding the larger context they contribute to, employees will become more invested in their work, actively seeking ways to fulfill not only their responsibilities but also to advance the company’s overall ambitions.

#8: Allow Employees to be Creative and Innovative

Allowing and encouraging employees to be creative and innovative can lead to significant breakthroughs. To foster this type of innovation, consider implementing programs that give employees dedicated time to work on new ideas and prototypes. For example, in 1948, 3M launched its «15% rule» program, where 15 percent of employees’ time was dedicated to innovation. The Post-It note was invented during the “15 percent time”.

By empowering your workforce to think outside the box and tinker with new solutions, you can tap into their deep product knowledge and unlock a wellspring of creativity. This not only leads to improved products and processes but also boosts employee engagement, as workers feel valued for their unique insights and contributions.

#9: Hire People Who Fit the Job Requirements

Recruit individuals matching job criteria, utilizing Job Scorecards to align candidates with roles suited to their skills and personality types for optimal performance. Positioning people in roles that leverage their strengths fosters enthusiasm, peak performance, and retention.

Benefits of Improved Employee Engagement in Manufacturing

Improving employee engagement in the manufacturing industry can lead to significant benefits for companies, including:

• Increased Productivity: Engaged manufacturing workers are 70% more productive than unengaged workers. This boost in productivity can have a major impact on a company’s bottom line.
• Improved Safety: Engaged employees in manufacturing are 78% safer than their unengaged counterparts. This can lead to fewer workplace accidents and injuries, reducing costs and improving overall operations.
• Higher Profitability: Engaged manufacturing employees are 44% more profitable for their companies. This is likely due to the combination of increased productivity and improved safety.
• Better Quality: Engaged workers tend to produce higher quality work, as they are more invested in the success of the company and take greater pride in their work.
• Higher Retention: Employees who feel engaged and valued are much less likely to leave the company. This can help manufacturers address the industry’s high turnover rates.

Companies need to focus on strategies that improve employee engagement in manufacturing, such as fostering a sense of purpose, soliciting feedback, providing training and development opportunities, and ensuring fair and inclusive treatment of all employees.

What You Should Do Next

Explore the Shoplogix Blog

Now that you know more on how to increase employee engagement in manufacturing, why not check out our other blog posts? It’s full of useful articles, professional advice, and updates on the latest trends that can help keep your operations up to date. Take a look and find out more about what’s happening in your industry. Read More

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Learn more about how our product, Smart Factory Suite, can drive productivity and overall equipment effectiveness (OEE) across your manufacturing floor. Schedule a meeting with a member of the Shoplogix team to learn more about our solutions and align them with your manufacturing data and technology needs. Request Demo