How to combat the workforce crisis

ProFood World has rounded up some creative recruitment and retention strategies to help manufacturers find the skilled talent they need to operate their advanced plants.

Dec 9th, 2019

As the skilled labor pool shrinks and more positions go unfilled, manufacturers are using out-of-the-box recruiting and retention strategies.

As the skilled labor pool shrinks and more positions go unfilled, manufacturers are using out-of-the-box recruiting and retention strategies.

The good news: Food and beverage manufacturing is booming. The bad news: A lack of skilled workers is threatening the industry. According to the 2018 skills gap and workforce study from Deloitte and The Manufacturing Institute, about 2.4 million manufacturing jobs will go unfilled between 2018 and 2028. The workforce crisis is putting pressure on manufacturers as they struggle to find the talent needed to operate their plants and meet increased production demands from consumers. What’s a manufacturer to do? From implementing digital technologies that narrows the skills gap to overcoming the negative perception of manufacturing with younger workers to dealing with the wave of baby boomers heading for retirement, ProFood World has rounded up some of the best recruitment and retention strategies to stay competitive in a changing workforce landscape.

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Bulk Bag Discharging System

Material Transfer’s patented system is designed for discharging pharmaceutical ingredients into a customer’s existing process.

Massman Tin Tie Applicators

Bag Finisher Applies Ties Inside or Outside a Single Fold

Can be used for the effective enclosing of any vertical bag with a single fold

Screen Shot 2020 03 31 At 12 36 57 Pm

COVID-19 Survey: Production Demand Is Up, But Processors Lack PPE

Despite current media coverage, most plant floor workers are not getting hazard pay; many feel frightened.

PACK EXPO Rewind: Risk Assessment

Hear PMMI’s Bruce Main, Safety Expert and Technical Advisor, and Sean Riley, Senior Director of Media & Industry Communications discussion of risk assessment at PACK EXPO East earlier this month.

Qc Conveyors Flextrac Series Conveyor2

Conveyors Feature Modular Design Capable of Multiple Configurations

Can handle challenges and space constraints of modern factories

Winco Toggle Clamps

Toggle Clamps Have Integrated Safety Features

Are compatible with inch dimensions and the metric system

Hang Weigh Filling System

Material Transfer’s hang weigh filling system features an exclusive rotating and traversing bag support carriage for maximum filling efficiency and reduced operator fatigue.

Flexlink 30 1 23823 Resized

Stainless Steel Conveyor

FlexLink expands its line of conveyors with the addition of the X70X 70 mm conveyor designed to handle smaller food containers and packets that are more sensitive to being unstable during production.

Bingo Bagger V5

Weigh Filling Machine

WeighPack offers the PrimoLinear V-5 net weigh filling machine designed to automatically weigh and dispense a variety of food products from as little as 500 g to 10 lb into a single bag.

Bulk Bag Conditioner with Rotary Lift Platform

Material Transfer launches a hydraulic bulk bag conditioner with rotary lift platform designed to return solidified materials in bulk bags to a free-flowing state.

Mettler Toledo Safeline Power Phase Pro Gc Digital Metal Detector

Live From PACK EXPO East: Digital Metal Detector

Unit protects products from stainless, ferrous, and non-ferrous metal contamination, and helps companies demonstrate all reasonable precautions have been taken.

Live From PACK EXPO East: Integrated Inspection and Checkweigher

Precision high-speed checkweigher is for cylindrical packaging formats, while new ultra-compact X-ray scanner is only 70 mm in width

Powder Process Solution Sanitary Mobile Dust Collector

Dust Collector Is Easy-to-Transport Mobile Unit

Has stainless-steel mobile tube support frame with lockable caster wheels

Since using the Flottweg AC 2000 centrifuge, Rhinegeist has been able to shave at least a week off of its brewing process, producing 3,400 barrels of beer a week.

The Need for Speed: Brewery Boosts Throughput with Centrifuge Technology

Rhinegeist upgrades to a vertical disk stack centrifuge that speeds up its brewing process while enhancing product quality and consistency.

Acrison Model 821 Bulk Bag Unloader

Bulk Bag Unloader Reliably Discharges Bags

Provides safe, dust-tight, effective operation

Jim Prunesti, Vice President of Engineering, ConAgra

Top Challenges Facing Food Manufacturers Today

Addressing aging assets and data collection best practices are two requirements for manufacturing excellence in today’s rapidly changing landscape.

Munson Machinery Model Rcm36 X9 Ss Rotary Continuous Mixer

Mixer Blends Dry Bulk Solids Uniformly with Little to No Degradation

Has lower power requirements and no internal moving parts

North Coast Seafoods packs its range of fresh fish filets in vacuum skin packs using thermoformed semi-rigid trays and a printed belly band for its case-ready package program.

Thermoformed Skin Packs Catch Attention, Hook Consumers

To accommodate retailers’ and consumers’ growing demand for case-ready skin packs of fresh fish, this seafood processor and packager turned to flexible, high-speed thermoforming equipment that makes sanitation easy.

Pfannenberg Pks Air To Air Heat Exchangers

Heat Exchangers Reduce Energy Usage and Footprint

Have only 2 mechanical elements for less maintenance

Inficon Contura S600 Nondestructive Leak Detection System

Leak detection equipment extends product shelf life

System reduces costly recalls

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Eagle Product Inspection Tall Pro Xs X Ray Machine

X-ray Machine Provides 100% Inspection

Multi-functional unit operates at high speeds

PACK EXPO Las Vegas and Healthcare Packaging EXPO welcomed more than 31,000 attendees—an 8% increase from the 2017 show.

PACK EXPO Las Vegas 2019 Innovations Report

The trade show featured cutting-edge technologies and solutions to help processors take their operations to the next level.

The CIP manifold and nozzles are manufactured using stainless steel construction and are meant to give the ability to introduce high-pressure water to the internal components of the conveyor system without removing the conveyor belt.

DynaClean Conveyor Line to Include CIP Option

Conveyor cleaning times are reduced even further with clean-in-place option.

Esther Mekjan, Regional Sales Manager, Russia

Heat and Control Opens Russian Office

Heat and Control announces the opening of its Moscow office, its newest site and its first in Russia.

Sterling Batching System

Micro and Tote Batching Systems Meet Specific Needs and Requirements

Can be equipped with a range of customized options

Cti Printable Blind Spotz Hpp Verification Technology

Technology Achieves HPP Verification at Individual Package Level

Validates proper pressure and time for single packages

Cryogenic refrigeration can reach substantially colder temperatures and chill products much faster than mechanical refrigeration.

The Cool Factor: What to Look For in Efficient Freezing and Chilling Equipment

Industrial refrigeration achieves efficiency without sacrificing performance thanks to advances in automation, safety, and sustainability.

Hollymatic Defender Pc1500 Poultry Cutter

Poultry Cutter Reduces Risk of Operator Injury

Includes electronic braking mechanism

Mk North America Versa Flex Flat Top Conveyor

Flat-top Chain Conveyor System Is Versatile and Flexible

Has a modular design to meet complex design needs

Gf Piping Systems Cool Fit Pe Plus Polyethylene Piping System

Pre-insulated Piping System Improves Cooling Efficiency

Features sealed, vapor-tight, 100% UV-resistant surfaces

Engagement Framework Chart

Our (Engaged) People Are Our Greatest Asset

Using the OpX Workforce Engagement Framework can move the needle on employee engagement as well as productivity and morale.

Messer Hot Products Tunnel Freezer

Tunnel Freezer Improves Productivity and Food Quality

Is more efficient than mechanical methods and conventional cryogenic freezers