In the recent article "It's Not About The Money" published by Booz Allen Hamilton about shift workers at a food manufacturing facility, the point is made clearly. In order to compete, American management teams need to get smart about labor strategy and shift work. The points made in the article dive deeper than questions about capital utilization and around the clock operations. We do that already. The problem is that we don't do it well. Instead of creating strategic solutions, managers are looking to the lowest common denominator and working employees like they are commdities. In order for American innovation to survive, shift workers must be heard. Yes, their hours will never be great, but by working with them and gaining buy-in, shift workers can add brain power to solving real problems on the shop floor and work hard to continuously improve cost profiles. Listen to your employees! They may no more than you think.
