I Make What?

I once toured a factory where none of the shop workers knew how the specific components they produced contributed to the finished product. As someone whose career is based on engaging employees to build a strong culture and brand, I found this fascinating.

If they don’t know how they contribute to the company’s success, what is their motivation beyond a paycheck? And when financial motivation is tested - what stops these employees from leaving for a new factory that offers higher wages? How do you build loyalty to your company brand in a situation like this?

I could write a novella about this topic but a quick breakdown of some first steps would be as follows. Eliminate the most basic issue first – introduce shopworkers to how the components they create fit into the bigger picture. This could be done as part of an onboarding discussion during a tour of the factory and reinforced with visuals like posters that indicate the function of the component manufactured in each part of the facility.  But don’t stop there – provide the framework for a sense of pride in the product by sharing customer success stories – this creates a tangible connection to the work the factory is doing and how your product solves a problem for your customers. Host town halls to keep everyone informed of their contributions to the overall organization’s success. Introduce employee recognition programs, pair new employees with tenured ones to build a framework for learning. The list goes on and on.