Drive volume to smaller group of preferred suppliers
- Reduce current vendor list to a targeted, preferred list
- Driving more spend to top vendors allows for greater efficiencies and better negotiated markups with suppliers
Enforce clear contractual guidelines with suppliers
- Ensure appropriate levels of insurance, safety & OSHA guidelines, and onboarding requirements are included in supplier agreements
- Audit compliance regularly to ensure requirements are met
Leverage VMS capabilities for LI process management
- Leverage shift management tools to better deploy resources
- Use time in/time out timekeeping model to allow contractors direct access for clocking time
Use data & analytics to drive informed behavior
- Review supplier & contractor performance data to ensure quality stays high
- Use historical trending to predict forecasting for resource needs and ramp up resources seasonally, as needed
When implementing a new contingent workforce program for LI labor, take the following key items into consideration:
- Geography is a main factor as resources will be required to work onsite, so seek your partner capabilities based on location and global footprint.
- Understand if there are peak seasons and how to properly accommodate those changes.
- Who are your top competitors and what are they doing in order to bring in the right talent? Always have a strategy to stay competitive and attract the best resources.
- How can you simplify the process and reduce your speed to market? This type of labor turns over quickly and most managers work on the floor, so it is important to make the process of worker procurement as simple and painless as possible.
Because of the nature of Light Industrial management, it’s important to take the time to understand the most effective methods that will get you on the path to a “Best in Class” program.
By Julie Pittman, Program Director
