As an employer, particularly in the manufacturing industry, it’s not uncommon to experience a sudden and substantial upswing in business volume. Whether this occurs due to seasonal trends, evolving partner needs or even a recent employee departure, you may find yourself clamoring to hire some additional resources. This is much easier said than done, however, and making the wrong move here can end up hurting your productivity more than enhancing it. As such, it’s important to consider all of your options before making that crucial final decision.

Temp vs. Full Time

If you find yourself faced with the sudden need to expand your workforce, the first issue you’ll face is determining whether you need temporary or full-time support. If the increased production is expected to last only a short while, a small contingent of temporary workers may be enough to fulfill your needs. While there are a plethora of benefits involved with a temporary workforce, there are also some downsides. Depending on the project at hand, as well as the type of equipment and exact manufacturing processes in use, temporary employees may need to undergo an initial training period, orientation or onboarding. Investing this amount of time into a temporary employee may end up hurting the bottom line in the end.

On the other hand, full-time employees are a great way to bolster staffing levels when business volume is expected to remain high. While you still might have to invest some time into the training of these workers, your company will enjoy increased benefits from a long-term staff members who has received training specific to your company as well as their individual role.

Diversify Your Existing Workforce

Another way to deal with a sudden increase in business volume is to diversify your existing workforce. When done successfully, this is a great way of handling larger production needs without having to deviate away from the team you’ve already built. Don’t be afraid to ask your current staff members if they are willing to step up, multitask and assume some additional responsibilities. It’s not difficult to meet the demands of an increased production schedule if everyone pitches in and does a little extra on a daily basis. If overtime is an option, don’t hesitate to offer it to your most valuable employees.

Process Automation

While this may not be an option in all cases, introducing process automation where relevant is a great way to augment the needs of an overburdened workforce. Moreover, automating some of the more simple, menial or monotonous tasks involved with your daily operations is a great of boosting productivity across the board.

Plan for the Future

Finally, you should use any sudden changes, including increases and decreases in business volume, as a means of forecasting future staffing needs. Take note of any seasonal or annual trends, specific production figures and the resources you already have at your disposal in order to generate an effective plan for the future. In the end, preparedness is the best way to tackle any sudden increases in business volume.

A leader in light industrial staffing, Automation Personnel Services also places employees in manufacturing and distribution services, engineering and technical management positions and office support services. Let us know how we can help your company today!