Empowering Employees: The Key to a Stronger Supply Chain

 

In an industry where chip shortages can disrupt entire global markets, the true power lies not in silicon, but in people. The semiconductor supply chain, like any high-stakes sector, thrives on the strength of its workforce. Too often, though, the power that employees have gets lost within corporations. 

 

With 40 years of experience in the semiconductor field, we have seen firsthand how a motivated, well-supported team can navigate market fluctuations, from shortages to surpluses, with resilience and innovation.

 

It is the innovation from within that can help a company flourish. That was especially evident during the COVID-19 pandemic, when the ensuing unprecedented semiconductor shortage prompted a significant increase in our personnel. Between 2021 and 2023, our total workforce increased 52% and nearly 90% of that growth was within our global Operations team.

 

Seemingly overnight, our recruiters accelerated their existing processes and explored different avenues to quickly find the right candidates. Once hired, new employees were onboarded and trained in our business operations via our well-established learning and development program, which made it easy to handle the expansion and scale up our new-hire training. 

 

Hiring is only the beginning. The challenge––and opportunity––lies in nurturing and retaining talent, especially during major disruptions like a global pandemic, geopolitical conflict, economic downturn or natural disaster. 

 

Periods of struggle not only highlight a company’s reliance on its workforce but also present an opportunity for businesses to invest in their people. Doing so ensures that employees will not only feel valued and work harder, but they will also remain loyal and build careers with your company. 

 

To have employee buy-in, organizations must make their employees feel heard, represented and part of the company’s future. 

 

Smith has a long history of promoting from within. Nearly 50% of our Operations employees who have been with Smith for more than five years have been elevated to higher positions. This culture of internal growth has continued with 10% of our global Operations team stepping into leadership roles over the past several months. 

 

Recognizing and rewarding hard work is essential for keeping talented employees and fostering a robust work environment. One way to show appreciation can be through monthly team-building events, such as celebratory lunches to thank our employees for their contributions and acknowledge employee milestones. These gestures go a long way, and they also build morale as well as camaraderie among teams.

 

In the everchanging world of technology and business needs, a future-skilled workforce is key to having a successful supply chain with minimal disruption. Engaging and retaining the right talent starts with successful onboarding and continuous learning and development, which can improve employee retention by 60% and productivity by 52%.

 

Not only does this enhance the entire team’s value and builds confidence, but cross-training and shared knowledge will allow everyone to pivot when necessary to ensure seamless operations, no matter the conditions. For example, the city of Houston—which is home to Smith’s global headquarters—experienced multiple, widespread power outages this past summer when a derecho tore through the city in mid-May and then Hurricane Beryl followed in early July. Despite the catastrophic impact on our community, Smith was able to continue operating through the inclement weather and subsequent recovery periods, thanks in large part to our multifaceted contingency plan, effective cross-department communication and the unfailing preparedness of our staff.

 

The semiconductor market is projected to grow in 2025, reaching an estimated worth of $687 billion. To capitalize on this growth, companies must equip their workforce with the skills needed for emerging technologies like artificial intelligence, machine learning and automation. A future-skilled workforce is your best defense against disruption and your strongest asset for innovation.

 

We all know the next shortage is inevitable, and while we may never witness a shortage like the one we just experienced, preparing for disruptions means leveraging new technologies to enhance efficiency and accuracy.

 

Companies that survived and emerged even stronger did so because of their employees who were nurtured and empowered to succeed. The path to a sturdy and resilient supply chain lies in empowering your workforce. By supporting, developing, and recognizing your employees, you can build a foundation for long-term success and continued innovation. 

 

To learn more about Smith’s custom supply chain solutions, visit smithweb.com or follow Smith on LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook, X and WeChat.