The importance of a cross-trained production work force is one of the major business needs that we have identified because of COVID.

Although we never anticipate having to live through this type of experience again the pandemic has taught us an extremally valuable lesson.  Having a multi skilled workforce gives you options and flexibility to adapt without being solely reliant on specified individuals for roles enabling production to always continue seamlessly.

This by no means detracts from individual skills and expertise within the workforce but is seen as a reliable back up for a time when those most knowledgeable may be absent, especially unexpectedly, from the business for extended periods of time.

In turn this generates more variety to a person’s role allowing a more satisfying working day, mental stimulation and socialisation enhancing workplace wellbeing.  The more multi-skilled a team member becomes the more opportunity for pay increase in recognition of the versatility in their skills to assist with production demand and meeting customer lead times.

The roles within our own production facility here at Pentagon are far reaching, from packing to setting from post ops to quality control.  This is not to say that all of our staff could turn their hand to all of the roles within the business, but our production team do have solid knowledge and experience of a variety of roles within the Division, enabling us to be reactive to change in demand at short notice.

This enhanced level of flexibility within the workforce helps with absence planning for annual leave and catering for sickness absences when they occur without putting excess strain on the operation.

Ultimately the benefits in a flexible and cross skilled workforce are delivered to the customer through seamless supply chain and timely lead times, here at Pentagon we are committed to flexibility within plastics manufacture.