October is an especially important time for Peoria Production Solutions (PPS) who celebrates National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM) and Manufacturing Month. The theme for NDEAM is ‘Access to Good Jobs for All.’ Peoria Production Solution takes pride in being a leading employer of individuals with disabilities, and this is central to its mission to provide quality solutions to customers. PPS recognizes this daily, and throughout October by celebrating those who drive America’s manufacturing and engineering sectors.
One of the strategies that Peoria Production Solutions uses is careful skill matching. The company leverages job coaches to carefully align new talent with roles considering capabilities, expertise, interest, and specifics on how the job is done. Erika Wilson, head of HR for Peoria Production Solutions, describes the process, ‘We work with the schools and job coaches who know the students best to get a better understanding of capabilities. Then we match potential employees to potential roles. We bring them to our site, where they can tour, ask questions, and sometimes even job shadow to try a task before committing. This helps everyone in the process to assess both the fit and interest.’
Erika recommends that companies leverage job coaches and partners. PPS has partnered with several organizations for talent placement such as CWTC (Community Workshop and Training Center), Epic, TCRC (Tazewell County Resource Centers), Bridgeway, and Goodwill.
The results speak for themselves. Peoria Production Solutions prides itself on high quality, low error rates, and strong employee satisfaction. In fact, for 80 years, Peoria Production Solutions has upheld an impressive 98% rate of accuracy and on-time delivery. While other companies may look for ways to drive employee engagement, Peoria Production Solutions is humbled to have one of the lowest turnover rates in the industry at only 4%. The company also has a strong retention reputation with several employees achieving decades of experience at PPS including 25, 30 and 40 years! The longevity and engagement speak to the culture at PPS. Dan LaTurno, President of PPS commented, ‘We are proud of our teams and we focus on their abilities. Our business started in 1941 and has evolved with the changing needs of manufacturing. We have adapted and innovated together with our employees to make a difference in contract assembly, packaging and kitting solutions, and more.’
The national average for unemployment for people with disabilities is -double the rate than for people without disabilities (US Bureau of Labor). PPS is helping bring this number down with the ‘access to good jobs for all’. Nearly 60% of employees at PPS have disabilities. By focusing on job matching and accenting strengths, PPS is able to deliver high-quality solutions through a truly engaged manufacturing workforce. PPS has a number of credentials including certified federal supplier, ISO9001, and has received a number of recognitions for positive Environmental impact.
If you would like to learn more about Peoria Production Solutions, see how the team can help you with your business, reach out to us – we would love to meet with you. Contact us today.
