Issue link: http://palletcentral.uberflip.com/i/1194984
18 PalletCentral • November-December 2019 palletcentral.com process. Automation will increase production and reduce workers comp claims. Over the past 5 years, 90% of our machines sales were justified by offering a solution to one or more of these labor problems. The labor epidemic is creating survival tactics for many. It's essential that pallet companies start looking at automation to offer a solution to the labor problem. In pursuit of automation, be aware it could take two years to get a pallet machine. Many companies have said "we may not be in business in two years if ºwe can't automate." Kathleen Dietrich OPERATIONS MANAGER Commercial Lumber and Pallet Company City of Industry, California n I would venture to say that labor, or lack of it, will continue to be the #1 problem for most pallet employers. As a result of that, I do believe that more and more people will turn to forms of automation and the domi- no effect will obviously be that equipment manufacturers will continue to create machinery that will work in the pallet industry domestically in the United States. I also believe that this will be a major factor in companies being acquired by larger companies as we are already seeing trending across the nation. Production employees will continue to be a necessity for pallet companies and the competition for that type of labor pool will become more and more competitive. I do believe that as a result you will see employee benefits changes, such as higher wages, incentives, vacation times, more affordable healthcare benefits, and an overall better work environment. Our continued LEADERSHIP Turnover is at all-time highs, while the stack of job applications has dwindled. The lack of experience is adding to the demand for labor. In some cases, it takes two people to do the same job that one person once did, that is, assuming they show up. –Todd Mazur