5 Reasons a Strategic Plan Can Reduce Employee Turnover in Manufacturing

on August 3, 2023

Strategic planning is the process of defining an organization's direction and making decisions on allocating its resources to pursue this direction. It involves analyzing the organization's current situation, identifying strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats, and developing a clear and compelling vision for the future. Strategic planning also involves setting goals and objectives, outlining the steps needed to achieve them, and identifying key performance indicators to measure progress. The process typically involves input from stakeholders and employees at all levels of the organization, and it provides a framework for decision-making and resource allocation that can help ensure that the organization is moving in the right direction.

You might be surprised how many manufacturing leaders either do not have a strategic plan or have one and don’t actively use it. 

"Good fortune is what happens when opportunity meets with planning." - Thomas Edison

Well, there is another reason why manufacturing leaders might want to create a flexible strategic plan or dust off and refresh their existing strategic plan, employee retention!

Yes, strategic planning can help reduce employee turnover. By developing a clear and compelling vision for the company's future, strategic planning can help align employees' goals and values with those of the organization, leading to greater engagement and commitment. Additionally, by identifying and addressing issues that may be contributing to high turnover rates, such as poor working conditions or lack of career development opportunities, strategic planning can help create a more positive and supportive workplace culture that fosters employee retention. Furthermore, the process of strategic planning can involve employees at all levels of the organization, which can help them feel more invested in the company's success and less likely to leave.

Let’s explore more benefits of strategic planning and employee retention: 

Strategic planning can help reduce employee turnover in several ways:

  1. Clear and consistent communication: Strategic planning involves clear and consistent communication of organizational goals and objectives to all employees. This helps to align everyone's efforts towards common goals, increasing job satisfaction, and reducing the likelihood of turnover.
  2. Employee involvement: Strategic planning often involves employee involvement in decision-making, which can increase their sense of ownership and engagement in the organization. This can lead to increased job satisfaction and reduced turnover.
  3. Career development: Strategic planning can identify opportunities for career development and advancement, which can increase employee motivation and retention. This can include training and development programs, mentoring, and career pathing.
  4. Compensation and benefits: Strategic planning can help to identify and prioritize employee compensation and benefits programs. This can include competitive salaries, health benefits, retirement plans, and other incentives that can improve employee satisfaction and retention.
  5. Work-life balance: Strategic planning can also address work-life balance issues, such as flexible work arrangements and time off policies. These policies can improve employee well-being and reduce the likelihood of turnover.

By incorporating these elements into your strategic planning process, you can create a culture that prioritizes employee satisfaction and retention, ultimately reducing employee turnover in your organization.

We would enjoy the opportunity to discuss strategic planning with you to help you not only retain your valuable employees (one of your company’s most important assets!), but also to prepare for other challenges that get in the way of strategic execution.  KMS’s solution, Agile, can help you do just that!

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