Signs of the Times - June 2017 - 36

INDUSTRY TRENDS
The International Sign Association

JUNE 2017 EDITION

Solutions for a Changing Workforce

There is no doubt that today's workforce is
in the midst of change. Older workers are
retiring. Younger workers bring in new attitudes
-and new expectations. Past ways of
thinking about manufacturing-as dirty and
dead-end jobs-are giving way to a better
understanding of today's realities.
Sign, graphics and visual communications
are changing the way they recruit and train,
as well. Two ISA member companies share
their tips for responding to workforce needs.

Adjusting to a Changing Workforce
There is no doubt that, when it comes to
recruiting today's employees, yesterday's
methods no longer work.
At Ruggles Sign in Versailles, Ky., the approach
has changed, according to Brad Turpin Jr., the
company's organizational development manager.
"We've adjusted how we ask questions during
interviews," Turpin said.
One innovative approach: When considering
two candidates for a project manager position,
both were interviewed at the same time.
"We asked questions and provided different
scenarios," Turpin said. "We got them flustered
pretty easily to see how they would react.
You get to see these two totally opposite
personalities."
The company ended up hiring both because
"we just didn't want to lose either one of them."

It was part of a lengthy process that took six
to eight weeks, "so we had time to think
about how we were going to do it."
The changing interview process includes
personality profiles for each new hire to
ensure that they will fit within Ruggles
Sign's culture.
Finding the right employee-one who will
end up staying on the job for a good while-
is required today. So is finding different
recruiting methods. It means things like
participating in Sign Manufacturing Day as
well as building relationships with area
technical schools. Ruggles Sign may eventually establish a co-op program, if all the
liability issues can be worked out.
No matter where the employees come from,
though, training is expected, Turpin said.
"The sign industry is so custom that we
have a lot of success hiring the right person
and then training them to do things the way
we want them to. It's hard to find someone
experienced in soldering skills, for instance.
One of our main struggles is to find CDL
drivers that also want to work on signs and
can drive our big trucks."
Those who already have a commercial driver's
license are highly sought out and pay can be
an issue. So Ruggles Sign is more likely to
find those who have some CDL training and
then help them finish certification. "We're
investing in our employees for that specific
need," Turpin said.

One other aspect of the changing workforce
is training employees in "soft skills," such as
communication and personal work habits. "I
don't understand why they're not getting it
in school or technical training, but it's a different kind of workforce and they have to be handled differently. Different things motivate
them and we have to be willing to train."

The Power of Referrals
When Steel Art Co. moved its offices to Norwood,
Mass., inviting the public in proved a great way
to introduce itself to the new community. It also
served as a way to let potential employees
know about the work that it does.
Participating in Sign Manufacturing Day has
extended well past serving as a welcome mat.
"We thought it was a good experience for
our own employees," said Gerry Racine, Steel
Art's vice president of human resources.
"They took pride in being able to show off
their work areas a little bit."
Beyond that morale boost, though, the day
laid the groundwork in building a relationship
with the local schools. While Steel Art hasn't
yet made a direct hire, it has led to long-term
relationships. Racine was asked to serve on
an advisory board for a local high school and
has done onsite recruiting at area schools.
The company has its best successes in hiring
new workers through employee referrals,
Racine said. "When people are happy at work,

STATS * FACTS
About 22 percent of skilled manufacturing workers will retire over the next decade, according to research from the Manufacturing Institute and Deloitte.
* * * ISA REPORT / June 2017

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