Issue link: http://www.insightdigital.biz/i/987722
26 | I NSIGH T • J u n e 2 0 1 8 w w w . i n s i g h t o n b u s i n e s s . c o m Cover 26 | I NSIGH T • J u n e 2 0 1 8 PLASTIC PASSIONS c o n t i n u e d A subtler move saw a shi in business focus to low- and moderate-volume orders, which allowed for greater customization in materials and product mix and provided additional subassembly or value-added capabilities. "ey are very responsive to our needs for new designs and new product launches. ey work really well with our engineering team," Miller Electric's Stenson says. "It's the people they get and how dedicated they are to the business, the customers and the quality of the product. When you walk through the plant, the employees are really engaged. at speaks volumes about the level of quality that comes from that business." As the economy came roaring back, so did Nicolet Plastics. In addition to financial growth, it has added several new presses to now run 19 different lines, undergone two renovations of the shop floor since 2014 with another renovation/expansion under consideration and seen better retention and growth in its workforce of nearly 100 employees. e company's cross-team approach enables Nicolet to offer lead times of as few as seven days for new customers. In its front office, engineers, sales reps and other production leaders oen can be seen huddled together working to turn around quotes for prospects. "We try to create an environment where folks can jump in and be collaborative, so we get the fastest response possible to those inquiries," says engineering manager Eric Derner. "We've been able to get quotes out in an hour." While the combination of those factors helped Nicolet pivot and power the company's performance during the past few years, two areas recognized both within and outside the industry have proven key to that success: employee training and customer education. WELCOME TO THE SKILLS MATRIX lthough Nicolet is in the heart of a vacation destination that appeals to a certain lifestyle, creating an outstanding workplace filled with knowledgeable and skilled employees doesn't just happen by attraction and circumstance. An important tenet of QRM is a cross-trained workforce. Nicolet created a matrix of skills — both so skills and technical — needed at every position at every level. e leadership team and employees worked to define those skills simply, so they were easily understood, then evaluated what combination of skills was needed for every job. Employees are evaluated regularly in the skills needed for their position, as well as the skills needed to move into other positions. Training can be customized to ensure each shi has the proper skill sets available to address shortcomings or to prepare folks to move up. e program is a crucial factor in getting a high level of employee buy-in to not just make Nicolet Plastics run better, but to improve manufacturing as an industry, Ogorek says. "If all a person is looking for is a good job, we can accommodate that, but if they are looking to build a really interesting career, we can give them the skills and tools to accomplish that as well," he says. e company's embrace of technology even extends to its training materials with video and online modules delivering relevant content and in-house mentors working to reinforce it. "We do have a pretty unique set of tools we use," says Lisa Pichotta, Nicolet's human resources manager. "We will even give them a quiz to find the best way they learn. We want them to be successful on day one." e skills matrix plays a vital role in talent training and attraction, but just as important is the work the human resources team puts into building relationships throughout the community that can be leveraged in the recruiting process. While Nicolet has pretty good success attracting and landing targeted talent, the location can be a tougher sell to trailing spouses and families. A mold is prepared for loading into one of Nicolet Plastics' 19 automated plastic injection presses. " People are here because they love it and want to be here. It shows." — Nicolet Plastics CEO John Ogorek