Role of Industrial Engineer in unionized manufacturing

This article is written by Umang Kumar Singh.

The role of an Industrial Engineer in a unionized manufacturing environment is unavoidable, as it clear misunderstandings among workers, align both workers and management with company goals, and strengthens the relationship between them.

Everyone knows Industrial engineering as Resource Allocation Optimizer, Waste Reducer and Process Efficiency Increasing department. But what about the hurdles, what about the labor challenges which are contributing towards making the function of IE more complex.

Somewhere Industrial engineer also works beyond technical improvement, which requires thinking from different perspective, building trust, and meeting worker’s requirement/interest with our improvement initiative.

If you too are thinking or feeling the same within your company, Welcome to the Union work culture-based manufacturing system: where not your technical skills but your strategic interest toward solving a problem will grow as well.

Let’s understand why we have union in our organization and what are the benefits of having it.

First and foremost, reason that affects is Productivity, which increases by having more cooperative and engaged workforce, which every organization need and if we are talking about quality then yes stable workforce also contribute towards consistent quality.

Other reasons that sound like the benefits for organization are Sense of Responsibility, efficient coordination with workforce, better relation between management and workers.

While some see this as a helping hand, some of them see this as a Detrimental (which is not good for organization) as they see Union based working as barrier for improvements, resist toward change, more political driven workspace, Biasness in performance-based appraisal, and many more.

While it helps workers in many ways, it also increases the work of industrial engineer, whose work involves Line balancing, time study, Manpower planning which often misinterpreted as a department for manpower reduction rather than productivity improvement which becomes a biggest rival while implementing even a small change.

Understanding the Union responses to IE Projects

Environment where union actively collaborate with IE department in discussions about productivity increasing ways, ergonomic improvements, new product introduction, etc.

But on the other hand in some factories, particularly where IE is a newly introduced function or having more focus toward manpower optimization, resistance can be more seen.

Sometime operator may decline to engage or even avoid interaction, IE person may also face issues related to data collection, rejection in lean practices or Absence of interest while talking.

Now, to be more precise let’s summarize, following are the responses of unions to IE;

1. They will think Industrial Engineers as manpower reducers, which they think will result in overload on them.
2. So whenever they see IE, while taking time study or coming to discussion for improvement they will not support.

And now the question arise is….

What are the Role of Industrial Engineer and how to work under such environment?

A basic approach may solve all your problem. Whether there is problem or not, an Industrial engineer should always sound strategically correct (aligned towards organization growth) and provide solution which is collaborative, transparent and sensitive to operator concern.

IE should always work as a Neutral agency who take decision by data analysis rather than management or sentimental based decision.

Focusing on Small improvements rather than gradual changes, which can solve most of the problem.

IE person should be more bend towards NVA reduction which is said to be a cost cutting tool but it should also helps operators in improved working conditions.

Industrial engineers are also known as the mediators between workers and management which means to show management the needs of workers and to show union that it’s not about manpower reduction or cost cutting but sustainable efficiency.

So let’s summarize the role of Industrial Engineers in in unionized manufacturing…

1. Find solutions which solve workers problem and which align with organisational goals.
2. Make decisions based on data
3. First focus on small small changes to avoid huge resistance to change from people
4. Reduce manufacturing cost without affecting the working conditions and environment of workers.
5. Be a bridge between workers and management and find solutions for both parties problems.
6. Explain the scientific methods of Time Study and how the time standards are arrived to the workers through trainings and demonstrations. The relaxation allowances and ergnomics considered are most important part here.
7. Explain the importance of cost reduction in manufacturing to the workers, to stay competitive in the market. Explain to the workers if we are not competitive the situation may come where factory needs to shut down, which will result in job loss to many.
8. If management is going for unethical or adopting methods which will hurt workers, stay against it with data. Also explain the importance of skilled stable workforce to the management.

Conclusion

So, all in all, the role of Industrial engineering department in industries having union-based manufacturing environment is not only about Process optimization but also about maintaining relationship and managing perception. No doubt, technical knowledge works as roots of the department but implementing the changes totally depends upon communication, trust building and a common goal achieving mindset.

We need to take our role more as Continuous improvement agents rather than cost cutting department and by this approach, we can surely become a bridge not a barrier between management and union.

About the Author

Umang Kumar Singh

With graduation in Industrial and Production engineering Umang Kumar Singh have hands on experience in Industrial Engineering department.

LinkedIn Profile on Know Industrial Engineering