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The use of robotics is becoming a
fixture in many industries, including
Eaton Rapids-based manufacturer
Dowding Industries.
“We’ve been looking at how we can reduce mandatory the desires of more employees for remote and
overtime, shorten shifts and provide more opportunities hybrid opportunities, many have come to accept the
for job sharing,” said McKeague. “It’s all hands-on-deck importance of flexibility in how the workplace will
effort to see what we can do to provide a more stable operate in the future. Though half the workforce has
supportive work force for those doing that sort of work.” little or no opportunity for remote work, most experts
say that hybrid work-set-ups are likely to continue.
At Eaton Rapids-based metal
fabricator Dowding Industries, the Lansing-based Neogen Corporation is a world leader
commitment to talent development in food and animal safety as well as life sciences and
the past 7 to 8 years has been toxicology. The company has worked to refine its talent
on building a stronger culture. attraction strategies to include finding new sourcing
Company President Jeff Metts says channels. Neogen also benefits from having a good
the organization has been more story to tell potential recruits.
diligent in screening job candidates
and using assessments to help “I tell our recruiting team there is
determine if the individual will be a Metts incredible talent out there, but they
good fit on the team. Dowding has can be hard to find and they don’t
also significantly bolstered its commitment to training. know about us. We need to be
creative so talent learns about us and
“We’re as interested in building people as we are in seeks us out,” said Mann. “We have a
building parts,” said Metts. “It is a two-way street. The very good story that resonates with
more we can get out of them, the more they can get talent relative to how we protect the
out of us. It is a partnership and it has really been world’s food supply and the people
working well.” and animals we care about.”
Mann
Metts says the industry turnover rate is between 42 to45 Ingham Intermediate School District Superintendent
percent, however, at Dowding they have been able to Jason Mellema says schools have become serious about
drive the turnover rate down to about 12 percent. a grow your own approach to developing talent. 48 ISD’s
across the state are working on developing a Talent
“Nobody leaves. We’ve made it a family atmosphere. Together Initiative, which is an apprenticeship program
Everybody’s ideas count,” said Metts. which would give people with a bachelor’s degree
an opportunity to go through a federally registered
As employers continue to wrestle with how to balance program to become educators.
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