Optimizing Workforce Growth with Knowledge Transfer and Process Efficiency Solutions

A fast-growing food products organization's rapid growth led to staffing increases, straining onboarding and time to competence. Subject matter experts were overburdened, impacting their capacity to train new staff. Leadership began leaving for less stressful roles, further complicating growth management.

The organization engaged APQC to enhance knowledge transfer and process efficiency to reduce attrition and support workforce growth. The initiative aimed to identify key knowledge processes for simplification, structure onboarding plans, create knowledge communities, and provide change management support. APQC worked with leaders to identify critical knowledge needs through audits and mapping, developing strategies for knowledge capture, onboarding, and talent development.

• APQC’s Process Classification Framework®
• Knowledge Audits
• Knowledge Mapping
• Knowledge Management
• Continuous Improvement
• Process Management

The organization adopted the APQC Consumer Products Process Classification Framework to evaluate and improve processes, focusing on high growth and high attrition areas. They aligned processes and implemented role-based onboarding with knowledge transfer plans. Change, support, and sustainment teams worked with leaders and SMEs to manage and enable the workforce. These efforts improved morale, reduced attrition, and stabilized leadership to manage ongoing workforce growth.

• Using a process framework aligns work and knowledge needs, integrating disciplines and functions,
  and supports future growth.
• Modeling staffing needs and critical skills for work processes aids in predicting and planning
  workforce requirements.
• Addressing stresses on key leaders and experts can reduce attrition and stabilize critical roles.