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

workers on plant floor

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.

Renewable Lubricants Bio Food Grade Hydraulic Fluids

Renewable Lubricants Hydraulic Fluids Are Environmentally Friendly

Contain Generally Regarded as Safe ingredients

Flexicon Ibc Conveying System

Flexicon Unloading and Conveying System Is Ready to Plug in and Run

Can serve multiple functions throughout the plant

Winco Pneumatic Clamps

Winco Pneumatic Clamps Are Long Lasting and Precise

Have been reworked, primarily to increase lifespan and reliability

Cremer, Spee Dee Hqs 1250 Gummy Solution

Cremer Gummy Counting & Dispensing Machine Offers Speed and Accuracy

Provides 100% accuracy for bottling nutraceutical and confectionery gummies

Gea Cut Master Gen 3 Main

GEA Bowl Cutter Includes Technology for Better Performance and Control

Handles cutting, emulsifying, chopping, mixing, vacuumizing, cooking, and cooling operations

Precision Automation Arca S Series Evolution

Precision Automation Introduces New Line of Labeling Systems

Are suitable for varying production needs

Key Auto Diverter

Key Technology Auto Diverter Improves Operator Safety and Ergonomics

Reduces risk of foreign material introduction to the product stream

Bulk Bag Filling: Increase Bulk Material Packaging Efficiency

Bulk Bag Filling: Increase Bulk Material Packaging Efficiency

Move beyond constraints of build-to-order machine manufacturers. See how engineered-to-application bulk bag filler design and construction increases bulk material packaging efficiency and accuracy.

Automation Dynatrol Dj Baghouse

The Dynatrol DJ Level Switch Is Field Proven

Offers simple installation

Emerson Discrete Valve Controller 3

Emerson DX PST Switchbox With HART 7 Protocol Ensures Valve Integrity

Increases facility uptime in hazardous applications

Digital Sorter Helps to Overcome Workforce, Yield Issues

A Veryx B175 digital sorter from Key Technology has helped Jones Potato Farm not only move past the difficulties of manual inspection of its green beans, but has also improved efficiencies.

Acrison Model 821 Pg1 A

Acrison Unloader Utilizes “Regulated Vibration” to Discharge Bulk Bags

Operates in a totally dust-tight manner

Gornann Rupp, Brian, Posted

New Gorman-Rupp Technology Is Designed for Extreme-duty Applications

Has innovative back cover plate incorporating an obstruction-free flow path

Piab Pi Flow Smart

Piab piFlow p Smart Vacuum Conveyor Features Unique Machine Learning

Is easy to install, learn to use, and operate

Coperion Batch Weigh Receiver

Coperion K-Tron Batch Weigh Receiver Accommodates Multiple Ingredients

Assures dust-free processing environments

Ross Fully Customized Mixing System

Ross Mixing/Melting System Is Fully Enclosed

Offers multiple functions

More in Processing Equipment

Mark Anthony Brewing Constructs $490 Million Facility to Meet Growing Eastern U.S. Market

As the fourth largest brewer in the U.S., the company’s new 1.3 million-sq.-ft. facility in Columbia, S.C., can produce 6 million barrels of finished product and package 80 million cases per year, with a packaging speed of almost 1,000 barrels per hour.

Gericke Pneumatic Conveyor

Gericke Conveying System Transfers Bulk Materials Hundreds of Vertical Feet Up

Gently conveys to high up-and-in discharges

TruFood produces millions of nutrition bars each week, which are sold at retail and club stores throughout North America and Europe, and online.

Sanitary Conveyor Improves Food Safety, Uptime for Co-Manufacturer

As the nutrition bar market took off and TruFood embarked on expansions, Luxme’s SaniLux conveyor provided an improved ingredient delivery system to speed production and sanitation, while reducing allergen cross-contamination.

MAB’s new facility makes Mike’s Hard Lemonade, White Claw Hard Seltzer, and other ready to drink brands and will provide increased capacity to keep up with consumer demand in the eastern U.S.

Mark Anthony Brewing Goes for the Gold Standard

The largest and most technologically advanced brewery built in the U.S. in the past 28 years, a 1.3 million-sq-ft highly automated, fast-track greenfield facility wins a Manufacturing Innovation Award from ProFood World.

Rogers Machinery Knw Series Group

Rogers Air Compressors Eliminate Risk of System or Product Contamination

Provide easy access to all major and routine maintenance components

Multi Conveyor Chain Drift

Multi-Conveyor Set of Food-grade Conveyors Includes 2:1 Combiner

Has transfer area that incorporates a chain drift design

Pierino gnocchi exit the Messer Wave Impingement Freezer. The wave-like action helps keep the product separated while the impingement gas flows increase throughput, cryogen efficiency, and operating leverage for the premium pasta maker.

Freezing Technology Saves Time and Labor for Pierino Frozen Foods

The family-owned Pierino Frozen Foods had relied on Messer freezers for the past 15 years, including its previous wave technology. Now the Wave Impingement Freezer is improving throughput and nitrogen efficiency.

Luxme Tubular Chain Conveyor

Luxme Cooler Conveyor Eliminates Need for Separate Chilling Station

Provides completely dust-free environment

Barry Callebaut, Sargento, Bel Group, Maple Leaf and More in the Headlines

The latest food company news about plant openings, acquisitions, and staff changes proves the industry is continuing its quest for operational excellence.

Even when wet from liquids, detergent, and oils, the SlipNot surface retains its high-friction qualities, so production can continue despite the presence of liquids that would otherwise bring it to a halt.

Simmons Foods Facilities Ensure Worker Safety

The implementation of SlipNot anti-slip flooring technology protects employees at a meat producer from slipping or tripping on wet, hazardous surfaces.

Newtec 2008 Pcm Mini Weigher

Newtec Mini Weigher Addresses Needs of Fresh-produce, Ready-to-Eat Industries

Provides accurate, high-speed services

Thermaline Automated Unit

Thermaline TagTeam Automated Plate Heat Exchanger Minimizes Downtimes

Streamlines critical redundant processes