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.

Maya Norris
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.

  

  1. Tackling the labor shortage
  2. Training Today’s Workforce to Fill the Skills Gap
  3. Bridging the skills gap with tech tools 
  4. Closing the skills gap
  5. Survey reveals millennials misconceptions of the manufacturing industry
  6. Maximizing the Digital Manufacturing Workforce
  7. Digital Transformation Helps Ease Workforce Issues
  8. The thinning of manufacturing
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ProMach Acquires Modern Packaging
ProMach’s acquisition of Modern Packaging, a manufacturer of filling and sealing solutions for the food and dairy industries will expands ProMach’s filling machinery product range with additional capabilities for viscous food and dairy products.
Jul 9th, 2020
Just like in this iceberg image, hidden operating costs can sink you. Total cost of ownership enables gathering better data and understanding for better informed decisions.
It’s All About the Cost, Not the Price
Just like all change management, total cost of ownership is a journey that has transformational results when successfully implemented.
Jul 9th, 2020
Metered Servo Merge By Multi Conveyor High Res
Multi-Conveyor Builds Metered Servo Merging Conveyor
Multi-Conveyor recently built a high-speed metered servo merging conveyor as part of a larger system to transport packaged food. It feeds a series of servo belt conveyors to gap two lanes of product into a single lane flow using DARB technology.
Jul 7th, 2020
Leuze Drt 25 C Dynamic Reference Diffuse Sensor
Diffuse Sensor Provides Reliable Detection
A wide scanning range detects all types of products, even those with difficult geometries
Jul 3rd, 2020
Material Master Bulk Bag Discharging System
Custom System Discharges Food Ingredients into Existing Processes
Is painted using a finishing system designed for the food and beverage industries
Jun 30th, 2020
Emidio Zorzella (right) and Massimo Bonardi founded Antares Vision in 2007.
Antares Vision Named Technological Partner of Choice for IMA Group
A five-year agreement takes Antares beyond pharmaceutical packaging, making it the exclusive supplier of all inspection and tracking technologies for IMA Group, including food and bev, cosmetics, and medical devices.
Jun 26th, 2020
Mettler Toledo X3750 X Ray System
X-ray System Inspects Small- to Large-diameter Glass Jars
Helps manufacturers protect brand images while meeting increasingly stringent worldwide safety regulations
Jun 25th, 2020
Linix North American Technology Center High Res
Shick Esteve Opens Linxis North American Technology Center in Kansas City, Missouri
Facility was designed and built to show current and prospective customers how the latest in ingredient automation, dough technology, and process controls can benefit their businesses.
Jun 23rd, 2020
Hrs Rmp Series Multi Pass Scraped Surface Heat Exchanger
Multipass Heat Exchanger Improves Heat Transfer of Viscous Materials
Provides large surface area with a very small footprint
Jun 23rd, 2020
Carlo Gavazzi Hdms Series Single Phase Motor Soft Starter
Single-Phase Motor Starter Requires No User Settings or Adjustments
Reduces costs on utility contracts
Jun 22nd, 2020
The VERYX B140 belt-fed sorter is equipped with top and bottom sensors that allow for in-air inspection of products.
Frozen Vegetable Processor Boosts Product Quality and Production Efficiency with Digital Sorters
A combination of next-generation cameras, sensors, and pixel-level detection allows for all-sided surface inspection.
Jun 22nd, 2020
During the COVID-19 crisis, Just Made recently experienced a 50% to 60% increase in the sales of its cold-pressed juices, which undergo HPP.
Sales Spike for HPP Products During COVID-19 Pandemic
Consumers in quarantine are snapping up HPP food and beverages because they offer extended shelf life and food safety as they wait out the crisis.
Jun 18th, 2020
Nord Universal Asynchronous Electric Motor
Asynchronous Electric Motor Is Energy Efficient
Holds CE, UL, CSA, CCC, ISI, and EAC certifications
Jun 18th, 2020
Ross 6,500 Gal Pre Filter Vessel 3
Pre-filter Vessel Is Fully Hydrotested
Meets ASME Code requirements
Jun 17th, 2020
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5 Things You Need to Know About Filtration
With an effective filtration system in place, food products will not only taste and look better, they are likely to last longer as well.
Jun 16th, 2020
Emerson Asco Series 353 Pulse Valves
Pulse Valve Provides Effective, Convenient Bag Cleaning
Cuts compressed air use and installation time
Jun 16th, 2020
Xtreme Vertical Drop Md
Vertical Drop Metal Detectors
Xtreme vertical drop metal detectors from Eriez are designed to detect the presence of ferrous, nonferrous, and stainless metal contaminants in gravity free-fall applications such as food processing, packaging, pharmaceutical, and plastics/rubber.
Jun 16th, 2020
Brother Brushless Dc Motors
DC Motors Offer Increased Efficiency and Reliability
Provide increased efficiency and reliability
Jun 12th, 2020
Unibloc Quick Strip Food First 600 Sanitary Stainless Steel Pump
Pump Reduces Foreign Material Contamination Risks
Safeguards employees in the food processing industry
Jun 11th, 2020
Material Master Bulk Bag Discharging System
Bulk Bag Discharging System Is Built for Hazardous Locations
Offers dust-tight operation
Jun 11th, 2020
More in Processing Equipment
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Aripack Partners With Italy-based Packaging Machinery Manufacturers
Aripack, announces its exclusive North American partnerships with Italy-based Miele and Laferpack.
Jun 10th, 2020
Mettler Toledo C33 PlusLine Washdown Checkweigher
Mettler-Toledo Unveils Two Checkweighers During Virtual Trade Show
During a virtual trade show last week, the company debuted machinery built for easy cleaning in harsh manufacturing environments.
Jun 10th, 2020
Readco Double Clamshell Barrel
Continuous Processors Have Double Clamshell Barrel Design
Promote complete cleaning, visual inspection, and easy adjustments
Jun 10th, 2020
Flex Xray Aurora Press Release
FlexXray Opens Food and Product Inspection Facility
FlexXray announces the opening of a state-of-the-art, FDA-registered inspection facility in Aurora, Ill.
Jun 10th, 2020
Gea Hilge Novatwin Positive Displacement, Twin Screw Pump
Flexible Screw Pump Provides Flexibility for Optimum Adaptation to Individual Requirements
Is designed for gentle product handling and long-term reliability
Jun 9th, 2020
Key Veryx Apple Sorting System
Sorting System Improves Overall Product Quality and Increases Yield
Automates and transforms entire operation of fresh-cut apple processors
Jun 9th, 2020
Admix Rs 02 High Shear Pilot Scale Mixer
Pilot-scale Mixer Enables Quick Production of Trial Flavors or Adjusting of Formulations
Creates completely homogenous, emulsified, and agglomerate-free mixtures in under 10 minutes
Jun 8th, 2020
Gericke Cone Mill
Cone Mills for Fine Particle Size Reduction Adjust at Top for Safety and Efficiency
Built-in gap adjustment indicator verifies particle size and ensures worker safety.
Jun 8th, 2020
Volkmann Vibratory Feeder Dosing System
System Is Designed for Continuous Feeding and Volumetric Dosing
Pneumatic-driven piston vibrator enables gentle, high-accuracy operation
Jun 5th, 2020
A sophisticated system allows Smucker to add pack sizes without major impacts to the line.
Fast-Track Fulfillment of a Frozen Food Favorite
Now better positioned to keep up with yearly double-digit growth of its popular Uncrustables line, The J. M. Smucker Company creates a highly automated facility that boasts the largest single baking line in the world.
Jun 5th, 2020
Flexicon Bulk Bag Filling System With Dual Fillers
Filling System Increases Safety and Speed of Connecting Bulk Bags
Has ports on each filler vented to a dust collection system to prevent air and dust from escaping
Jun 4th, 2020
Waukesha Cherry Burrell D4 Pmo Double Seat Mix Proof Valve
Mix-proof Valve Has Features Required for Ultra-safe Operation
Offers dairy businesses budget-friendly solution to provide continuous and reliable processing
Jun 4th, 2020