How should we do at this situation?

Dear all,

We are facing a big problem on human resource management. All of you have abundent experience on manage an ognization, thus we think properly you can give us a light to solve the issue below.

As the sub-title mentioned, we are a seasonal products manufacturer. The total production duration of the combination of all products we produced is only 3 months. So we have to have a long vacation after we complete the whole tasks. We also want to produce more products during the objectionable non production interval. However, the special nature of the growth and harvest of raw material we used and the extremely bad temperature in our site location (the difference between day and night there could reach 20 degree centigrade）restrict us only could produce products in those three months.

Due to the situation, we could only employ tamporary labours. (You know we can not pay the labours salary during the non production days, thereby labours could impossiblely becom more and more familiar on their responsibility) Yes, we tried to train them, but every time when they become a little bit of professional, the production season was nearly over and they would leave our factory to find a new job. Most of the labours could not be present at the next season.

That is what we are worrying about... We have no idea to solve this situation. Any one who can give us a light is appreciated in advance.

Jason

BUMP for Jason.

It sounds like a very difficult problem you have Jason. I worked at a company once where their customers buying patterns in the UK were seasonal e.g. a lot in summer but a lot less in winter so they began exporting to Australia and other far flung countries and it balanced the production somewhat. Your issue is different as it is the product itself that constrains you. The only thing I can think of is if you had another product that you could run all year round or on the opposite season, which I am sure you have considered already.

Things like simplifying tasks, ensuring adequate instruction, training and supervision will all help to make the task less onerous to learn and carry out consistently in conformance with the requirements. You could of course pay more money, which may get you more returning employees.

That’s all I can offer Jason.

Regards,
Simon

I agree with Simon,
If you could not find a product for the rest of the year, you can pay them higher salaries and assure them that if they work properly and are responsible to their work you will hire them the next season again.

Dear Jason,

IMO, solving the main problem is better than solving the effect of the problem. I bet you already figure this out, but in my experience, we always try to find alternative suppliers. Pardon for my simplicity, but could you use another material as a substitute? I hope you dont mind to elaborate a bit more about your material. So the other members may share you different thoughts.

However, if the material is an inevitable problem, I suggest you to hire permanent labors for critical and important positions (like operators), and hire the temporary labors for non-critical positions. If the permanent labors got nothing to do when production is off, maybe you can lend them for other dept., like warehouse, maintenance, or even sales force Anyway, thats just my opinion... hope helps...


Regards,


Arya