17% Improved productivity through enhanced training and process execution

Manufacturers face a dual challenge: a tightening skilled labor market driven by retiring Baby Boomers and increasing production complexity due to automation. Rather than simply adding headcount, forward-thinking companies are investing in their existing teams. They’re moving away from traditional shoulder-to-shoulder training and paper SOPs. Instead, they’re equipping their current workforce to handle more sophisticated work with modern, scalable training methods. These investments are yielding significant productivity gains even as team sizes remain lean.

Outcomes:

• 17% increase in productivity despite a retiring workforce
• Improved overall employee capability and qualification
• Optimized processes and tasks while reducing redundancies
• Increased retention through better work processes, resources, and career path visibility

Every year since deploying Acadia, we’ve improved our total productivity while simultaneously training our employees to become more autonomous and consistent in their work.

– Director of Global Technology

New Capabilities:

• Better process execution and consistency
• Reduction in time to proficiency of new hires
• Improved visibility of employee skill assessments and career paths
• Increased employee autonomy during work

One of our clients is a beverage manufacturer producing multiple brands in each of their facilities around the world. In recent years, the organization has been forced to do more with less as large segments of their workforce retire. For example, on their state-of-the-art packaging lines, they previously staffed eight operators – one for each piece of equipment. A lack of available skilled workers required the team to become more efficient both in training and deployment of existing human resources.

First, they optimized their process flows, eliminating unnecessary tasks and simplifying others. They ensured every person on the line was retrained using while they worked. Process compliance was monitored, and relevant information was made easily available on the job, all in Acadia.

The team built redundancy by cross-training employees for additional skills and tracking employees’ abilities dynamically. Skill visibility enables the company to get the most out of its workforce. For example, when an operator calls in sick, others who share overlapping skills can be called in to take their place.

Since deploying Acadia, the company has increased productivity and volume year-over-year. They’ve done so despite operating with fewer full-time employees each year due to retirements. Those working in this environment are more engaged and have a higher retention rate. They have visibility into their progress as they advance their careers.