Client Success Stories

Flexible Staffing Broadens Recruitment Reach

Situation
This food manufacturer dates back to 1945 and is the No. 1 national brand in three product categories with goods available in 30 countries. Headquartered in Wisconsin, this client used various staffing agencies but failed to get the quantity or quality of seasonal workers they required for their busy facilities. The client then used internal HR for their temporary staffing needs, but the lengthy process took a toll on the department and the overall effectiveness of core HR functions decreased.

Challenge
As the client continued to grow and sales demands increased, getting the right type of talent to staff the production lines was a major concern. Job functions, along with the number of positions needed on each line, varied per facility. Therefore, the need for employees who met the specific requirements for each position was important. Recruiting for these positions was difficult due to the rural location of the facilities and an extremely low unemployment rate at the time — 1.9%.

In an effort to meet the growth in production demands during busy seasons, the plant was operating on a six day workweek schedule. 60 hour workweeks were common for nearly nine months out of the year. Due to the excessive overtime, turnover within the first year was 70%. After one year, turnover averaged between 5-10%, resulting in a continued presence of new hires which effected the efficiency of production.

Solution
Staff Management | SMX was brought in to implement a dedicated on-site management and recruiting team at two locations, bringing flexible production staffing to facilitate and enable the client’s remarkable growth. Staff Management | SMX later expanded operations into an additional location, making it a three facility operation. A flexible staffing solution was implemented, targeting passive job seekers such as students, primary care parents, retirees and second jobbers who are motivated by flexibility in their schedules. Staff Site, a full-time staffing program allowing the client to reduce their core headcount and support positions, was also added. Staff Management | SMX’s on-site service team, accessible during all hours of operations, managed both solutions. This included interviewing, hiring, scheduling, associate check-ins, and associate discipline and motivation. A client-specific recruitment plan, customized for each job position, was developed and implemented. Staff Management | SMX’s thorough analysis and understanding of client needs yielded the most consistent recruiting practices as well as the most qualified candidates.