The Challenge:
A decentralized U.S.-based global manufacturing company in the home products category wanted to better connect their hourly “deskless” employees to the corporate holding company. The goal was to unify the total organization around a central business strategy to drive the organization toward long-term financial success. While the local facilities had standardized communications on the shop floor with managers for day-to-day operations, connectivity with the CEO and executive leadership team was limited. Initially, there was not full buy-in due to concerns that the top-down communications would not be locally relevant. Additionally, this employee segment did not have traditional access to the company’s intranet and digital monthly newsletter that came to email inboxes. The company needed a new process and channel to share updates on the overall business, its priorities and financial performance.
Alpha’s Solution:
- We proposed a first-ever standardized monthly communications “kit” that would be sent to facility leaders and HR managers who supported site communications. The kit included a series of slides to be used on breakroom TV monitors.
- Slide content was evergreen and included timely updates and succinct bullets of key messages with QR codes that linked to further information, videos and key news stories.
- The kit offered flexibility for facilities that did not have breakroom TVs with printable formats to be used on bullet boards or as handouts.
Results:
- Upon launch of the innovative communications approach, approximately half of the global facilities had invested in low-cost breakroom TVs. The facility GMs who began utilizing the new digital-based materials immediately appreciated the ease and simplicity of uploading the slides and adding their own to the mix.
- We sought formal feedback on the quality of the content and relevancy, and asked for input and ideas each quarter. The feedback improved the overall program by the third month of implementation.
- Hearing the positive feedback from their peers, by the fifth month of the program all facility GMs had adopted the TV slide kits.
- It was reported that by the eighth month, all facilities eliminated paper-based bulletin boards.
- The program continued to evolve over time with some facilities requesting materials for non-English audiences in China, Mexico and Europe. We secured a respected translator to add a multi-lingual component based upon need.
- The program was a big success and continues today across the global organization.
