intelligent

Cater to every personality type , from the shyest to the most outspoken . And once you receive feedback that is useful , act on it and share the results .

Accommodate

More than half of respondents

( 55 %) said their morale was not high , citing a lack of raises and bonuses as top reasons . While it is not necessary to have every staff member come into work every day with a bounce in their step , morale must remain high on aggregate for a business to function well . Beyond monetary factors , perks can help , as can opportunities for professional development . But arguably the most significant non-monetary compensation for the modern worker is flexible working . This is more important to factory workers who see their back office colleagues working from home while the same is not available to floor personnel . Even the ability to choose a daily start and end time for a floor shift would be a boon .

Change

Most of our surveyed factory workers ( 55 %) would take a pay cut to work at a more sustainable factory , while only 45 % say their organisation is being proactive in this regard . In the wake of COP28 , more workers across the region are looking to their employers to lead and align with their nation ’ s sustainability goals . To attract and retain young talent , firms must reduce waste throughout the manufacturing process . Technology tools are on hand to help , by analysing data and using AI to suggest more efficient processes , greener materials and more efficient consumption of energy . Technology can audit entire supply chains to identify vendors who have the same sustainability priorities and those that may need to be replaced .

What next ?

Once something is named as a trend , those that are not part of the trend are already on the cusp of being left behind . If a firm understands what its workforce is going through , it is in a position to act . But only if it chooses action can it reap the rewards of a driven workforce . That workforce wants a sustainable , more technology-driven factory and enough flexibility and compassion to feel valued and supported . It ’ s now the time for Middle East industrialists to usher in the future of manufacturing . �

WHILE IT IS NOT NECESSARY TO HAVE EVERY STAFF MEMBER COME INTO WORK EVERY DAY WITH A BOUNCE IN THEIR STEP , MORALE MUST REMAIN HIGH ON AGGREGATE FOR A BUSINESS TO FUNCTION WELL .

Vibhu Kapoor , Regional Vice President – Middle East , Africa & India , Epicor