Upskilling Your Workforce, Part 3

On this episode of Manufacturing a Stronger Standard, a DeGeest Steel Works podcast, President Derek DeGeest joined host Tyler Kern for the third installment of the duo’s series on upskilling your workforce.

Upskilling refers to giving employees additional tools and skills, elevating their knowledge and capabilities – and often your entire operation.

Previous episodes have touched on helping employees take ownership of the manufacturing process, even in the age of painting robots and automation, and this episode took the conversation further, highlighting how automation and robotics can be successfully implemented into your facility.

Though the words automation and robotics can cause apprehension among workforces and companies concerned about the role robots will play in eliminating the need for human work in certain aspects of manufacturing, DeGeest said there are best practices to ensure automation is truly beneficial and empowering for the entirety of your operation.

“One of the ways to break down that apprehension and the fear when looking at automation and whether their facility and their team are ready to add it into their operation is to start problem-solving groups,” he said. These groups help employees use their expertise to come up with processes together. This creates a united front and a team atmosphere for getting the most out of operations by thinking of ways to add automation. “Ultimately, we are developing problem solvers throughout our company.”

Adding automation to your manufacturing operation needs to be looked at holistically, not in silos. Be cautious about adding one robot or adding a fast laser or a machine that does not integrate your shop. Add automation that engages workforce at all levels of your facility. DeGeest adds, “Start small, but look for ways that can be touchpoints or effective for more than one employee.”

Another strategy is finding ways automation or technology can be used in multiple departments. Examples: ERP system, Scanners instead of manual entry, Quoting software, Work instruction software, Digital department status boards.

Kern and DeGeest also touched on other best practices, specific examples of how these strategies, such as problem-solving groups, have elevated their business, and more.

For the latest news, videos, and podcasts in the Building Management Industry, be sure to subscribe to our industry publication.

Follow us on social media for the latest updates in B2B!

Twitter – @MarketScale
Facebook – facebook.com/marketscale
LinkedIn – linkedin.com/company/marketscale

Follow us on social media for the latest updates in B2B!

Image

Latest

DXpedition
Icom Powers 3Y0K : Ham Radio’s Most Ambitious DXpedition to Remote Bouvet Island Part 1
July 11, 2025

Bouvet Island sits at the edge of the world. It is frozen, uninhabited, and almost impossible to access. Fewer people have set foot there than in space. That level of remoteness is exactly what makes it so valuable to amateur radio operators. The island ranks tenth on ClubLog’s list of Most Wanted DXCC entities,…

Read More
entrepreneurial success
The Hidden Key to Entrepreneurial Success: Build Momentum Through Personal Branding and Authentic Networking
July 10, 2025

What if the biggest pivot of your career started with a conversation?  In this episode of Professional Quotient, host Jason Winningham welcomes Fanny Dunagan, CEO and Content Strategist of PathLynks, LLC. Fanny shares her journey from high-pressure consulting in Singapore to founding her own media and branding company — and why learning to network…

Read More
Q2 2025
RM Q2 2025 Wrap Up
July 9, 2025

Rogue Marketing continues to lead with intention in a space often driven by noise. Q2 2025 reflected a strategic focus on substance, where each initiative supported long-term brand growth. The team transformed internal recognition efforts into enduring brand assets and refined event strategies through immersive, results-driven experiences. Website launches during the quarter balanced visual…

Read More
amateur radios
Hamvention Spotlight: Emergency Preparedness Led PrepHam Paul to Amateur Radios and a Rising Voice in the Field
July 9, 2025

PrepHam Paul (K5VLP) celebrated his first visit to Dayton Hamvention by marking a major channel milestone. He hosted a giveaway of the  IC-2370B mobile radio from Icom to thank viewers for helping him reach 10,000 subscribers. His passion for emergency preparedness, rooted in his experience as an Eagle Scout and later studies in emergency management,…

Read More