Northwest Food Processors Association’s Education Research Institute (ERI) and the Hitachi Foundation presented DPI with a 2011 Distinguished Premier Food Processor Award in front of 150 industry leaders at a general session during the 98th Annual NW Food Manufacturing & Packaging Expo and Conference held on January 19, 2012.
As part of Hitachi Foundation’s Pioneer Employers Project, the award recognizes employers for their contributions in promoting economic opportunities for their lower-income employees, specifically as a means of improving their corporate results. In DPI’s case, this is exactly what the Heart of the Workforce (HOW)™ Program is designed to accomplish.
The HOW Program is an entry level, workforce for productivity program designed as part of the solution to a major issue facing the food processing industry: the lack of available knowledgeable seasonal and long term skilled workers. By teaching the basics surrounding workforce readiness, workforce safety, food handling, and food safe manufacturing practices, the HOW Program prepares workers for work before they get in the door—thus reducing on the job training times, increasing quality, productivity and a dedication to safety. It’s a simple concept, but one that has been shown to bring turnover rates of 35-40% down to 20-25%.
Interested in learning more about how to transform your temporary and seasonal workforce? Contact us today.
