Recruitment & Hiring 

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funds awarded that allowed for improved working conditions that increased morale 

while producing savings in energy usage and maintenance costs. 

Organizational Culture 

Demonstrate through explicit behaviors and norms of leadership that all workers 

belong, are valued, and contribute meaningfully to the organization. Assess workers’ 

engagement and feelings of respect. 

How the MEP National NetworkTM Applies This Driver 

TechHelp Manufacturing Specialists client Western Trailers 

manufacturers flatbeds and other trailers. 

TechHelp helped Western Trailers hire and retain qualified production staff to meet 

competitive production rates by providing tailored lean-based first line supervisor and lean 

leadership training to focus on lean standard work, leadership development, communication 

techniques, and interpersonal skills; this training helped employees learn to coach and 

nurture “respect for people” in a manufacturing culture as a means of getting results. 

8 Key Drivers of The Job Quality Toolkit 

The Job Quality Toolkit provides practical guidance on eight key drivers that turn a routine 

occupation into a high-quality job – one where your employee feels respected, valued, and 

important to your company’s success. The toolkit is rooted in the U.S. Department of 

Commerce’s Baldrige Excellence Framework. 

Actively recruit a diverse pool of applicants. Implement skills-based hiring that only 

requires the education, credentials, and experience needed to do the job. Be 

intentional about onboarding and retaining workers. 

How the MEP National NetworkTM Applies This Driver 

Vermont Manufacturing Extension Center (VMEC) client Carris Reels 

is a 100% employee-owned manufacturer of custom solutions for the wire 

and cable industry. 

VMEC helped Carris create an inclusive work environment, attract and train 

employees, and build trust and accountability through the implementation of TWI 

Job Relations Training, which shows supervisors how to build positive relationships by 

emphasizing teamwork, fair treatment, constructive feedback, and positive recognition, 

as well as keeping workers continually informed. 

Benefits 

Seek workers’ input on needed and desired benefits, such as paid leave, health 

insurance, and a retirement plan. Provide them and encourage their use. 

How the MEP National NetworkTM Applies This Driver 

Kansas Manufacturing Solutions client Smith and Loveless, Inc. 

specializes in pre-engineered water and wastewater treatment and 

pumping systems. 

Kansas Manufacturing Solutions provided Smith and Loveless with the strategic 

guidance the company needed for a range of human resource challenges, such 

as developing attractive benefits packages, that included paid time off and 

vacation policies; keeping up with legal policies; and creating an employee 

handbook that clearly defined this essential information. 

Diversity, Equity, 

Inclusion, & Accessibility (DEIA) 

Make equal opportunity a core value and practiced norm. Foster systems where all 

workers feel respected and empowered in the workplace. Identify and remove 

systemic barriers to DEIA. 

How the MEP National NetworkTM Applies This Driver 

Illinois Manufacturing Excellence Center (IMEC) client Prater 

Industries engineers and manufactures custom grinding and milling 

equipment. 

IMEC helped Prater find an innovative solution for fulfilling vital but repetitive tasks by 

aligning with Autism Workforce, which places autistic individuals in appropriate jobs, and 

working with them to create a neurodiverse work environment in which their valued 

new employees would feel comfortable. 

Empowerment & Representation 

Ensure that workers have a meaningful voice, without fear of retaliation. Enable 

workers to contribute to decisions about their work, how it is performed, and 

organizational direction. 

How the MEP National NetworkTM Applies This Driver 

Ohio Manufacturing Extension Partnership (Ohio MEP) client Atlas 

Roofing Corporation creates high quality roofing 

and construction materials. 

Ohio MEP helped Atlas Roofing adopt a continuous improvement strategy by assisting 

its plant manager to obtain employee buy-in, request their input, detail how important 

their contributions were, and open up communications – starting an ongoing 

dialogue that welcomes suggestions and has positive impact on employee morale 

and the bottom line. 

Job Security & Working Conditions 

Ensure a safe, healthy, and accessible workplace and offer job security. Minimize 

temporary or contractor labor solutions, using such workers mainly to adjust for 

short-term needs. Assess and schedule hours that are adequate and predictable. 

How the MEP National NetworkTM Applies This Driver 

Nevada Industry Excellence (NVIE) client U.S. Ordnance builds 

military small arms and NATO-sanctioned weapon systems. 

NVIE helped U.S. Ordnance address company-identified potentially unsafe working 

conditions caused by the need for employees to handle 70 lb. bars in tight spaces 

while off-balance, and improve processes by bringing in a Certified Energy Manager to 

perform an audit on the production facility. Helped the company submit applications for 

grants and incentives for implementing energy efficient projects, which resulted in 

Pay 

Provide an equitable living wage to all workers and ensure fair 

compensation practices. 

How the MEP National NetworkTM Applies This Driver 

Montana Manufacturing Extension Center (MMEC) client Hi-Country 

Snack Foods produces traditional-recipe high quality meat snacks. 

MMEC helped Hi-Country increase employee compensation, benefits, and job skills 

in order to attract and retain its workforce by implementing a value stream mapping 

effort that highlighted energy efficiency improvements, training staff in lean principles 

of waste reduction, standardizing work to improve packaging efficiency, and 

pursuing automation – all of which resulted in the productivity and skill gains needed 

to support wage increases. 

Skill & Career Advancement 

Provide opportunities and tools for workers’ self-realization and advancement in their 

current jobs, within the organization, and outside it. 

How the MEP National NetworkTM Applies This Driver 

Oregon Manufacturing Extension Partnership (OMEP) client 

KCR Manufacturing designs and manufactures wildland firefighting 

equipment for forestry professionals around the world. 

OMEP helped KCR develop, create, and implement a mentorship program and 

update training modules with remote access to generate structured on-the-job 

training with defined development pathways, less repetitive work, and the ability to 

integrate new workers and upgrade incumbents. 

Your local MEP Center can help your company become an employer of choice. 

If you want assistance in implementing the principles outlined here, 

visit www.nist.gov/mep/centers. 

Sources: https://www.nist.gov/mep/successstories/2022/70-year-old-vermont-company-reels-employee-recruitment-and-retention; https://www.nist.gov/mep/successstories/2021/resource-human-resources; 

www.nist.gov/mep/mep-national-network 

1-800-MEP-4MFG 

https://www.nist.gov/mep/successstories/2019/custom-grinding-and-milling-manufacturer-and-its-customers-reap-benefits; https://www.nist.gov/mep/successstories/2021/people-pow 

er-your-business-building-buy-factory-floor; https://www.nist.gov/mep/successstories/2018/us-ordnance-rural-energy-america-program-audit-earns-259418-energy-efficient; https://www.nist.gov/mep/successsto 

ries/2022/leadership-training-enhances-retains-workforce; https://www.nist.gov/mep/successstories/2022/taking-bigger-bite-out-snack-food-market-montana-manufacturer-and-mmec; https://www.nist.gov/mep/suc 

cessstories/2018/firefighting-equipment-manufacturer-develops-structured-job-training-program;