employee engagement

5 things food manufacturing leaders need to know about non-desk employees

October 1, 2020

Gaining a better understanding of the non-desk workforce drives engagement, reduces turnover and increases productivity. Despite being 80% of the world’s employees—with food manufacturing workers accounting for nearly 11% of that—the non-desk workforce has largely gone overlooked and ignored.

Crisis communication

Effective communication during the COVID-19 pandemic

Keeping workers and customers informed is critical to success

Casey Laughman

April 3, 2020

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As the COVID-19 pandemic has processors scrambling to ensure they can meet a sustained surge in demand while keeping their employees safe, crisis communication plans are a critical component of an effective response strategy.

training programs for food and beverage employees

Training plays a part in employee happiness and retention

Casey Laughman

March 9, 2020

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Employee training is a cornerstone of an effective processing operation. But as processors struggle to find and keep qualified employees, it is also a benefit that can help keep employees happy and more willing to stay.

Workforce

Worker shortage has processors scrambling to hire and keep good employees

Rose Shilling

May 22, 2019

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U.S. manufacturing is in the thick of an expected shortage of 2 million workers over 2015–2025. Talent is the top challenge among the evolving concerns of global executives.

Innovation

New Zealand dairy co-op finds new way of engaging employees

Online tool lets employees match their interests and skills to internal company projects for which they typically would have had no access

Wayne Labs

September 13, 2018

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Fonterra, a New Zealand-based dairy co-op, has instituted a new way for employees to spend time outside their day jobs on internal company projects which would normally be outside their scope of work as defined by their job description. This match-making system is designed to enable employees with talent and skills they don’t normally use to get involved in projects that are exciting, but normally not open to them.

Automation Series

Processors use technology to improve employee engagement

New tools are available for processors wanting to connect their workers, but to succeed, companies must have a business plan, transparent communications and a mindset for continuous improvement.

Wayne Labs

February 7, 2018

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Before you look at technology solutions to motivate and engage your employees, you need first to evaluate your company’s workplace environment.

Employee Engagement

Finding operational success via employee engagement

Employee satisfaction is paramount to maintaining a committed workforce, but an engaged employee—one who is enthusiastic about his or her work and furthers the company’s interests—is key to unlocking excellence.

Jeremy Gerrard

August 4, 2016

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For the food and beverage industry, attracting a skilled workforce has never been as important as now. It’s also never been as expensive.

winners of Plant of the Year Award on FA&M panel

Food Automation & Manufacturing Conference 2016

FA&M 2016: Evolving toward excellence

FA&M presenters urged processors to foster cultures that emphasize caring, food safety and information.

Debra Schug

June 14, 2016

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At first, it might seem odd that many of the presentations during this year’s Food Automation & Manufacturing Conference focused on people.

Editor's Note