Frank O Smith (fosmith@thewritinggroup.com)

Employee misunderstanding: Use assessment technology to rate confidence and competence

Employee misunderstanding in the manufacturing industry comes in many forms, and can result in devastating consequences. For a line worker who misunderstands how to operate a piece of machinery, this unrealized knowledge gap can lead to wasted materials, degradation of product quality, and even serious injury.

Looming skills shortage prompts innovative workforce retention and recruiting strategies

A shortage of highly skilled manufacturing workers—the people running sophisticated equipment on the plant floor, as well as engineering and management professionals—poses a serious threat for North American industrial competitiveness. The shortage lies in the demographics as legions of baby boomers near retirement.