India has laid down ambitious aspirations for the manufacturing industry through initiatives like Make in India and Atmanirbhar Bharat. The subcontinent seeks to evolve as a global manufacturing center, challenging the United States and Europe, along with formidable Asian players, such as China, Korea, Taiwan, and Japan. But there is a harsh reality—without the right management of Human Resources (HR) of blue-collar workers, India’s manufacturing growth story will come crashing down.

The Backbone of Manufacturing: Blue-Collar Workers

Manufacturing is an industry reliant on labor. Whether operating machinery, ensuring the effectiveness of assembly lines, quality in production, or timely delivery—blue-collar workers define the quality and quantity of manufacturing output.

Machines can be purchased, technology can be imported, but it’s the human resources who provide productivity in manufacturing. Disregarding their management, development, and welfare is like building a manufacturing facility without a foundation.

The Current Reality in India

In India, many manufacturing companies, particularly SMEs, view blue-collar workers as costs rather than valuable resources.

• Compensation is low and often not received on time.
• Training and skill-building are rare or nonexistent.
• Work is often unsafe and sometimes antiquated.
• Workers are given no recognition or dignity at work.

This strategy reduces productivity and leads to high turnover, low morale, and poor quality work, making Indian manufacturing non-competitive globally.

Insights from Global Manufacturing Companies

Countries like China, Japan, Korea, and Taiwan clearly demonstrate manufacturing excellence through their respect and management of blue-collar workers and employees in general.

• Japan’s Kaizen philosophy highlights continuous improvement and recognizes the importance of input from workers on the shop floor.
• China’s massive-scale training programs ensure that workers are skilled, disciplined, and efficient.
• Korea and Taiwan provide strong labor welfare provisions that motivate workers to remain loyal to their employers.

The end result? Increased productivity, improved quality, and rapid growth of scale of manufacture.

Why Respectable HR Management is Non-Negotiable

For India to compete globally, HR practices for blue-collar employees must go beyond payroll and compliance. They must include:

• Fair Wages and Payments in a Timely Manner – Employees must be paid wages commensurate with the industry that they are working in and on a timely basis in order to survive financially.
• Skill Development & Training – Ongoing training in areas of safety, technology, and efficiency results in a workforce that is able to be responsive to advanced manufacturing needs.
• Health & Safety – Reducing incidents and worker downtime in safe work environments builds trust in the employees.
• Recognition & Respect – Operating within a culture that acknowledges the contributions of all team members will build motivation and commitment.
• Career Growth Opportunities – Employers, by offering pathways for team members to advance in roles and responsibilities will positively build employee retention into the future.

Gireesh Sharma

Director, Manufacturing Industry

 //andrespenabad.com