A systematic approach creates a stronger workforce

A systematic approach creates a stronger workforce

Making the foundry sector more sustainable requires not only new technologies – it also requires a workforce that is equipped for the demands of the future. With full implementation of the HR system CatalystOne across all companies, BIRN Group now has a common and much more robust basis for workforce planning and developing.

In recent years, BIRN Group has worked hard to implement a new HR system, CatalystOne, which provides a detailed overview of the employees’ master data, skills and development opportunities. Where employee data  was previously spread across several systems – and in
some cases in the managers’ own heads – all employees throughout the Group are currently registered in CatalystOne. This applies to all BIRN Group companies in Denmark, Germany, Sweden and Italy.

The system ensures one common way of working with employee data throughout the Group, thus providing a completely new level of robustness. When knowledge lies not only with one manager, but also in a common system, it is far less vulnerable, e.g. in the event of a change of manager. The new system also complies with all GDPR requirements, and it provides the opportunity to monitor employee turnover, absence, certifications, upskilling and training needs across the companies.

Now that the foundation is in place, BIRN Group is now in full swing with the next phase: to use the skills module in CatalystOne much more actively. Among other things this involves mapping the employees’ current skills and matching them with the skills that will be needed in the future. This simplifies and clarifies job roles as well as skill requirements. The goal is to create greater transparency for employees, ensure even better training and at the same time strengthen safety in production.

The first steps are being taken at BIRN in Holstebro, where we need to know which skills exist today and which will be needed in the future. With more than 100 job roles spread among more than 700 employees at BIRN Group, there is a need for systematic clarification and an overview of the skills associated with the individual job roles. Once that is done, targeted training can be initiated.

A concrete example is melters: employees are taught to optimise melting withthe least possible energy consumption. Here, CatalystOne identifies both the level of skills of the individual employee and who needs what type of training.  BIRN in Holstebro is also working to modernise and simplify the training material throughout production. Previous courses and curricula are now converted into intuitive checklists that make peer training simpler and auditready, while also examining which areas are suitable for e-learning.

A sustainable workforce is the BIRN Group’s main challenge in the HR area. At the same time the turnover of employees must be reduced, diversity in areas such as age and gender must be increased and a clear and usable overview of  the skills we need now and in the future must be created. All of this is anchored in a systematic approach and an overview of employees, skills, job functions and development opportunities.