The New Era of the Manufacturing Workforce
December 4 2024By: Joe BielikAs we celebrate Manufacturing Month, I have been reflecting on the advancements in the sector. Manufacturing is practically unrecognizable from what it was a generation ago and that is in large part due to innovations in the workplace. At CGC, our commitment to new technologies and processes helps us stay ahead and meet the evolving needs of our customers, and employees.
As Director of HR at CGC, I am deeply involved in shaping how these advancements impact all aspects of our workforce – from recruitment and retention to training and employee wellness.
Advancements in manufacturing, such as automation and new technologies, have reshaped traditional roles, altered talent requirements and job skills, and opened doors for a range of diverse team members, particularly for more women who may have been hesitant to pursue manufacturing careers in the past.
With Women’s History Month taking place alongside Manufacturing Month, I have also been thinking about the growing number of women who are contributing to our industry. At CGC, we are seeing more and more women step into engineering and operations roles.
As Director of HR at CGC, I am deeply involved in shaping how these advancements impact all aspects of our workforce – from recruitment and retention to training and employee wellness.
Advancements in manufacturing, such as automation and new technologies, have reshaped traditional roles, altered talent requirements and job skills, and opened doors for a range of diverse team members, particularly for more women who may have been hesitant to pursue manufacturing careers in the past.
With Women’s History Month taking place alongside Manufacturing Month, I have also been thinking about the growing number of women who are contributing to our industry. At CGC, we are seeing more and more women step into engineering and operations roles.
"CGC proudly innovates to replace any potentially burdensome, repetitive or unsafe tasks with automated processes. Manufacturing emphasizes technological advancement because it allows the industry's personnel to focus on what's important."
Joe Bielik
Director of HR at CGCJob Evolution
CGC proudly innovates to replace any potentially burdensome, repetitive or unsafe tasks with automated processes. Manufacturing emphasizes technological advancement because it allows the industry’s personnel to focus on what’s most important. Where we used to focus on hiring people to do tasks, the industry is now much more focused on hiring people who can maintain and fix the equipment that performs the tasks.At CGC, these changes have reshaped job descriptions, altered the skills needed for recruitment and upskilling and influenced safety protocols and solutions, as well as overall company culture. Training has evolved dramatically as well. With the help of simulations and augmented reality, our people can learn the technical parts of their job in a far more hands-on setting without incurring more risk.The state-of-the-art R&D facility in the US, operated by our parent company USG, is at the forefront of product and process innovation and plays a crucial role in developing cutting-edge solutions that have redefined CGC and our industry.Finally, advancements in safety have led to greater peace of mind for all workers, especially those on our mining, manufacturing and distribution sites. Today, we look at safety holistically — it’s not just about injuries or accidents, it extends into psychological safety and the wellness of the whole person.
© 2024 Melissa Ivey Photography, all rights reserved.
Increasing gender parity in manufacturing
It’s simultaneously unfortunate and understandable that manufacturing is still perceived as a male-dominated field. The way jobs are described and portrayed in the media, in our schools and sometimes even in advertised job listings, do not always reflect the current reality of our industry.But the good news is that’s slowly changing over time. Today, women are pursuing academic and career paths that are directly applicable to manufacturing, in greater numbers than ever. CGC has certainly benefitted from this trend, with talented women across the country supporting our business goals.The innovations in our industry have led to an environment where all jobs — from the head office to the warehouses to the manufacturing plant floor — are specifically designed to be inclusive. We want to hire the best candidates, period.
What we look for today
In our recruitment efforts today, we look to hire people who can fill roles as diverse and unique as the people themselves. Regardless of their position, a CGC employee’s career path in manufacturing can be what they make it.CGC is always hungry for STEM and tech talent. The automation required for modern manufacturing is entirely dependent on sophisticated engineering and software. And our engineers have the opportunity to pursue careers in people leader roles and technical role. We’re looking for people who are open to learning new parts of our business and interested in opportunities to be cross-trained. We’re firm believers that innovation can come from anywhere and anyone.The manufacturing workplace is evolving and I’m privileged in my role to get to see the transformation first-hand. At its core, CGC is in the business of creating value and at the heart of this work lies our people, the cornerstone of our success. We’re committed to creating a culture and workplace that captures the best value for all.- Get in Touch
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