Some challenges for manufacturers in 2023 continue to be recruitment & retention and meeting customer expectations, especially as customers are asking about your social responsibility. These challenges have led to high turnover, inability to meet production demands, customer loss, and lack of market expansion.
INCLUSIVE WORK CULTURE: Improve your Profitability and Competitive Advantage
Posted by Paola Velasquez on Apr 4, 2023 2:31:33 PM
Inclusive Mindset: 6 Tips to Lead Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Initiatives
Posted by Paola Velasquez on Feb 14, 2023 10:23:34 AM
Diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) commitments are falling by the wayside. What was once a priority has turned into an annual check-the-box competency training for some. Unfortunately, annual competencies are not enough to drive change, create inclusion, and foster engagement. Below are 6 tips to assist you in your DEI journey.
Inclusive Mindset: Is Authority Bias Fogging Your Gemba Walk?
Posted by Paola Velasquez on Oct 25, 2022 8:53:39 AM
"There is only one way to look at things until someone shows us how to look at them with different eyes." - Pablo Picasso
Good company culture cultivates engagement and innovation. Research shows that workplace innovation leads to significant and sustainable improvements in organizational performance, employee engagement and overall well-being.
Manufacturers: It’s Time to Move from Operational Excellence to Inclusive Excellence
Posted by IMEC on Jul 22, 2022 4:26:29 PM
This is an original article from the NIST Manufacturing Innovation Blog.
In the wake of the killing of George Floyd two years ago, many organizations and companies made commitments to racial and social justice. Diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) offices were created and DEI officers were hired. But have they been given the resources they need to succeed? Have they been given the teams and leadership buy-in to make real change happen?
How to Foster A Gender-Inclusive Workplace
Posted by IMEC on Jun 30, 2022 9:43:30 AM
This is an original blog written by Guthrie Blechman, Lead Consultant at Holistic Index.
When creating cultural and structural commitments to creating an inclusive, and respectful workplace, establishing a gender-inclusive environment is critical. Read more to learn what it means to be gender-inclusive in your language and actions in the workplace to foster a sense of inclusion and belonging.
Rethinking Old Hiring Rules to Achieve a Diverse Workforce
Posted by IMEC on Jun 20, 2022 12:19:23 PM
This is an original article from the NIST Manufacturing Innovation Blog.
Many manufacturers have struggled for years to hire qualified workers. The outlook is for more of the same. With an aging workforce, emerging new technologies requiring more skilled talent, and the continuing decline of trades education in high schools and community colleges, an estimated 2.1 million manufacturing jobs could go unfilled in the U.S. by 2030.
ELEVATE COMPANY CULTURE: DEI 101 for Manufacturers
Posted by Paola Velasquez on May 4, 2022 1:01:21 PM
Words can mean different things at different times. It is easily confusing to understand the words diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) and their relevance to manufacturing. So, let’s clarify some of the common words. But first, the reality is that manufacturing has been introducing diversity into the workplace for decades, Rosie the Riveter exemplifies how six million women joined manufacturing in World War II. Jump forward to 2022 and the workforce is ever more diverse as demographic shifts reshape the workplace.
BEGIN WITH MINDSET: How to Cultivate a More Inclusive Workplace
Posted by Paola Velasquez on Mar 25, 2022 4:39:52 PM
As we navigate past the pandemic, companies are facing the effects of the “great resignation.” Diversity and inclusion are no longer a nice to have, but an essential part of a company to thrive and grow. Research has proven over time that diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) practices contribute to organizational success, such as 70% more likely than their peers to capture new markets or 25% more financial returns above the national industry mean for companies that are top quartile for gender diverse executive teams.
Apprenticeship Is Vital to Manufacturing's Post-Pandemic Recovery
Posted by IMEC on Jun 17, 2021 3:08:30 PM
This is an original article from JFF’s Center for Apprenticeship & Work-Based Learning.
The COVID-19 pandemic has hit the manufacturing industry hard, and apprenticeship may be one strategy toward a stable recovery.
As the novel coronavirus spread across the country and around the world, many manufacturers had to cut back operations and lay employees off. These moves contributed to the overwhelming surge in new claims for unemployment benefits, which had surpassed 40 million in just ten weeks as of May 23, 2021.
THE BUSINESS CASE FOR WORK-BASED LEARNING
Posted by IMEC on Jun 16, 2021 12:27:17 PM
This is an original article from JFF’s Center for Apprenticeship & Work-Based Learning.
What Is Work-Based Learning?
Work-based learning refers to meaningful training that takes place at work, usually under the direction of employer coaches and managers, and has been shown to produce high value for both companies and workers.