There is a challenge being experienced by industries to secure warehouse labour and are in the race to win an available skilled workforce. To worsen this, customer’s expectations about delivery time grew exponentially in 2020. Businesses try to deliver continuous and in-time operational recovery while creating work conditions that make it simpler to attract, train and retain associates.
A survey was conducted focusing on those interviewing or hiring staff for materials handling, logistics, and SC operations, from various industries, encompassing pharmaceuticals, computer, electronics, food, tobacco, beverage, and retail, in several American countries.
More than 50% of responders mentioned were highly prepared, despite that they found persistent challenges in the warehousing and distribution sector, realising that training and retaining personnel was more complicated through the pandemic. Sadly, about 4% of organisations still have no plans in place.
Lack of talent can be addressed by improving workforce’s skills, implementing new technologies, establishing cross-functional training, improving skills in your workforce, hiring and training veterans, offering mentorship programs, implementing and getting more robust retention practices and establishing awareness campaigns to open up students to industry.
Most of the people entering the job market are either little or not prepared to accept the challenges of the present-day fulfilment environment. Approximately 4.2% of respondents think these individuals are highly ready. Apparently candidates are unqualified as today’s edge technology challenges them – changes are happening too fast to cope up. There is lack of good communication skills, customer interface skills and experience among younger candidates.
There are certain competencies required. Senior Management needs to have problem-solving and analytical skills (47.1%), possessing reliable-work ethic and to have hands-on teaching experience with real-world situations; having communication skills, influential leadership, plus awareness of industry trends; besides experience with materials handling automation, business skills plus relevant technical training. Most importantly should have knowledge in latest technologies; negotiation skills, international skills and foreign language command.
Supply chain networks are recovering from the worst global supply chain disruption, due to pandemic, in world history. Supply chains are structurally being redesigned and bringing in strategies to improve resilience by re-valuating labour strategies and reviewing safety stocks to improve satisfaction. Use of robotics for the fulfilment of operations will continue with use of “cobots.”
