Strategies for Successful Global Workforce Management Standardization

5 steps to take for successful global workforce management standardization  
Do you work for a multinational organization? If so, then I don’t need to tell you about how challenging it can be to manage a workforce globally.  
Because you are in the manufacturing industry, you face the pressures of controlling labor costs and increasing productivity, all while keeping up your employee engagement. But as a multinational manufacturer, you deal with the added pressures of foreign competition, international labor laws, specific country and regional regulations, as well as, managing a myriad of cultures. Really, when you look at the list, it’s no wonder that starting a global workforce management initiative can seem overwhelming! Where do you begin? Who should be involved? Who can you partner with? Most importantly: How do you think globally, but act locally?   
It’s important to know that you are not alone. Manufacturers just like you are realizing the benefits of global workforce management standardization and I’m going to give you a sneak peek into the 5 steps that leading manufacturer Maxim Integrated takes as they implement a centralized workforce management solution around the world. 

Step 1: Create Focused Project Teams 
The project teams – from the C-Suite to local staff – are instrumental in the success of the project. Make sure you have the right project team members before starting the project and clearly outline their roles and responsibilities. 

Step 2: Generate a Realistic Project Timeline 
To effectively implement a global workforce management solution across multiple countries, while balancing resource constraints, it is necessary to create a project timeline that includes a phased approach. This staggered approach provides enough time to fully investigate local requirements to ensure a successful roll-out at each location.  
 

Step 3: Strike a Balance Between Local and Global Requirements 
It’s no secret that global pay rules just don’t exist. Considering local requirements is important to the successful implementation of a global workforce management solution. But one key piece of advice: don’t start from scratch with every roll out – try to standardize as much as you can across all locations. 
Things that can be easily standardized:

• Person imports
• Naming conventions
• Rule assignments
• Automation
• File delivery

Things that should be controlled locally:

• Shifts
• Work rules
• Pay policies

Conversations at the local level are key to discovering which local requirements must be configured into the solution.

Step 4: It’s All About Change – Change Management 
A comprehensive change management plan is critical to preparing and aligning a global organization for successful strategy execution. For a smooth change management process, be sure to:

• Engage leadership and project ambassadors
• Create a communication plan
• Make adjustments as needed
• Provide training – in a variety of options to address different learning styles
• Celebrate milestones and contributions

Step 5: Choose the right workforce management technology partner 
It is important that your workforce management technology partner has extensive industry expertise and experience with leading global manufacturers like you.  The ideal partner can assess the current and future state of your workforce management program and provide a solution framework that supports your vision.  
With the right workforce management technology partner, together you can lay a strong foundation for effective, efficient, and consistent workforce management across your multinational operations. 

Feeling a little less overwhelmed and ready to get started?  
Good! Now it’s time to take your first step towards successful global workforce management standardization. To best prepare for your effort, download the complete guide to learn how Maxim Integrated successfully deployed Kronos workforce management to over 26 countries.