Anyone who has ever worked in the manufacturing sector in any position whatsoever knows that it can be a high-stress environment. Sometimes time constraints of urgent orders are the ultimate cause of stress while other times there are environmental factors that contribute high levels of stress. From temperature to noise, and even vibrations, there are many factors that interfere with productivity and even a lack of productivity compounds the issue. If you are a manager or company director seeking ways to alleviate workplace stress in the manufacturing arena, here are a few ways you can go about easing the tension on the job.
1. Keep Lines of Communication Open
Sometimes a worker is experiencing problems at home or on the job that keep them from performing up to their usual standards. Bosses are encouraged to keep an open-door policy when it comes to communicating with employees from the lowest paid hourly worker to the highest paid salaried manager. If it’s a job-related issue, there is no one quite like the boss to find a solution that is acceptable to everyone involved. Employees are more apt to perform well when they feel management has their best interests at heart.
2. A Little Automation Goes a Long Way
Companies throughout Australia have come to realise that automated production lines don’t eliminate jobs but rather allow for better quality control and increased productivity. Sometimes workers need to be reassigned jobs, but the push to get orders out timely isn’t falling squarely on the shoulders of linemen who are working beyond their capabilities. If you haven’t thought of CNC Machining as a way to take a great deal of the stress off your linemen, talk to the pros to see just how cost-effective automated production lines can be for your company. It is a known fact that employees not suffering from job-related stress simply perform better and with quality and quantity control, everyone fares better in the long term.
3. Give Teams a Bit of Freedom in Reaching Goals
While there are some processes which must be completed in a specific manner, other duties may leave room for creativity. Once you have quantified what you expect, give some of your teams the ability to reach those goals in ways that reduce their levels of stress. With a qualified floor manager and effective team leadership, you just might be surprised at how efficient your teams can be when they are given some amount of freedom to find ways to meet your quotas. Whenever possible, allow teams to work under conditions best suited to their talents and expertise.
In the end, your goals are very much the same. Workers are looking for job stability and a future they can count on while you are seeking to keep your company afloat and at a high level of profitability. Stress-related illnesses are some of the leading causes of absenteeism and even when suffering through the effects of stress, workers simply don’t perform at optimal levels. Take the time to assess what is causing stress in your company and then take the necessary steps to reduce the stress your employees are suffering from. Stress-reduction on the job is a win-win solution no matter how you look at it.
