Improving Employee Performance for Manufacturers...

Helping to keep your employees fit could be one of the best employee benefits a company can give and receive from their employees.

Businesses select smart minds to work for them so they can produce quality products and deliver quality services. It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to discover when the end of their employees shift nears that their ability to function at top performance dips as well.

One of the best things that can be done is to offer an aerobic based exercise program. This could be scheduled before or after work, or even right before lunch. It might be a membership or even a partial membership to a local gym that the company provides to the employee. Or companies can install a gym and shower facilities on-site and fully capitalize on the benefits of keeping employees in tip-top shape.

While the membership option is provided by some companies nationwide, including for our company, I’m sure the decision to install the facilities on-site at a company’s location may sound a little over-the-top. However, by offering an opportunity to oversee their employees involvement the whole point of the investment option has a more effective payback. On the other hand, the off-site membership opportunity can be difficult to monitor and may not be as effective nor produce any of the desired results.

There have been extensive studies proving that exercising 20-30 minutes a day can increase energy and reduce illnesses. This in itself can extend a workers employment, reduce training requirements, and prevent missed appointments and production deliveries. Offering an opportunity to exercise doesn’t just apply to physical labor personnel it also applies to the mind workers who are people behind the creative wheel helping to steer where the company is headed next.

Cost estimators need to think of the next cost savings they can pass along to their customers or to increase profits for the company.
Production people need to think clearly to steer away of the next accident waiting to happen because they are over-tired.

Sales people need that extra jazz and swing to appeal to your prospects as the likeable person they want to do business with next.
Management needs to process the right language for the next deal or the next employee moral building opportunity.

Customer service people need to creatively think of how to reply to occasional customer complaint and turn them into a happy customer.
The proof is in the pudding. I’ve read it in magazines, heard if from professional inspirers, and listened to it preached to sports players by their coaches. I’ve tested it myself and it has been proven to me.

Prove it to yourself. Be lazy for a few days and try to write a story and experience how difficult it is. Then exercise for ½ hour, for example and get your heart pumping, make the oxygen flow, feel your body move, sweat a little. Then, on the following day, try to write a story and see it flow right out like it was already pre-written.

"The more you exercise the more energy and thought flowing power you have."

Why is all this important for business owners? It increases the effectiveness, productivity, and available operating time that your employees can provide to the company.

Cost estimators may achieve higher quote to award ratio.
Production staff can lower their injury statistics and sickness or time off records

Sales people may increase the quantity or the value on the order they bring in.

Managers displaying better leadership qualities with enthusiam can further increase the performance of employees.

Customer service people can turnaround complaints and spruce up happy customers helping to retain and grow the business.

At the end of the day…the company’s profits have a greater chance of being the best they can be at a minimal "highly-beneficial" investment.




If you care to share a topic, comment, or suggest an idea for a future article? Let us know… Jay Snow, Marketing Manager, MTI Systems. Jay.Snow@mtisystems.com.