Case Study: Small Manufacturing Business
This case study details how a U.S.-based custom cabinet shop serving the high-end residential market survived economic challenges by adopting lean manufacturing principles, initially improving production and later streamlining HR processes through WorkforceHub's TimeWorksPlus timekeeping and scheduling modules, which automated redundant manual timecard handling, reduced non-billable administrative time, enhanced data-driven profitability, and improved document management.
Running a small manufacturing shop in the United States is not for the faint of heart. In the past few decades, many operations have shut down due to foreign competition and other factors. However, there are domestic manufacturers that have not only survived but are thriving.
Case Study: Cabinet Shop
This case study examines a custom cabinet shop focused on the high-end residential market.
During the recent recession, the owner adopted lean manufacturing practices, which helped the business weather the economic downturn. While lean manufacturing was originally designed for large assembly-line facilities, many of its principles can be applied to companies of any size or industry.
Initially, the owner concentrated on improving production. Later, attention shifted to HR processes. At that time, the business used paper timesheets, an old-fashioned time clock, and outdated scheduling processes, all of which were cumbersome and inefficient. This led the owner to seek better solutions.
The goal was to apply lean manufacturing principles to people processes, specifically to:
- 1.Eliminate redundancy through automation
- 2.Reduce time devoted to non-billable processes
- 3.Leverage data to continually increase profitability
- 4.Improve document management
Solution: WorkforceHub
While WorkforceHub manages nearly all HR processes, this case study focuses on its timekeeping and scheduling modules.
TimeWorksPlus, part of WorkforceHub, is an industry-leading timekeeping solution ideal for small manufacturing employee timekeeping. Here’s how the solution addressed the owner's primary objectives:
Eliminate Redundancy
Previously, each employee filled out a timecard, which a supervisor then approved, and the payroll manager manually entered the data into the payroll system. This meant three different people handled each timecard every payroll period.
With TimeWorksPlus, which syncs with the TimeWorks Touch time clock and other Swipeclock hardware, onsite employees began clocking in with TimeWorks Touch. Employees working offsite could clock in with their smartphone or work tablet, all feeding into the same integrated system.
TimeWorksPlus captures timecard data in real time, making it accessible in various formats. Managers can now approve timecards quickly, and employees can view their pay stubs, work schedules, and PTO accruals within the system.
Minimize Time Devoted to Non-billable Processes
Before implementation, workforce management consumed most of the HR team's time and a significant amount of time for supervisors and employees. Now, employees manage their own electronic timesheets, and hours are imported directly into the payroll system. This allows the HR team to assist with sales and billing, and the owner believes that even if the business triples in size, no additional HR staff will be needed.
Previously, managers used Excel spreadsheets to create employee schedules. With TimeSimplicity, customizable templates and drag-and-drop functions allow managers to create team schedules in minutes.
Leverage Data to Boost Profitability
TimeSimplicity enables the owner and management team to analyze and adjust worker schedules to improve productivity. Overtime alerts and schedule enforcement have reduced labor costs and increased profitability.
Improve Document Management
Manual capture, storage, and access of HR data was highly inefficient before WorkforceHub. Employee time and attendance, schedules, time cards, PTO tracking, payroll processing, and compliance reporting previously consumed over twenty hours a week for the two-person HR team. Now, there are no more error-prone paper time cards, no tedious accruals tracking, and audit-ready records help protect against Department of Labor actions.
What can WorkforceHub do for your business? Call today for a demo.
Swipeclock offers WorkforceHub, a fully-integrated platform designed to optimize the performance of supervisors, employees, and organizations. WorkforceHub includes TimeWorksPlus, TimeSimplicity, and TimeWorks Mobile, and is developed for busy employers who need to streamline scheduling, automate time and attendance tracking, maintain regulatory compliance, and reduce labor costs.
WorkforceHub can be implemented immediately. Contact Swipeclock to request a demo or learn about becoming a reseller.
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