You’re Making Hiring Harder Than It Has to Be. Workforce Optimization Can Help!

By Kent Burns, Founder and CEO of Simply Driven

Hiring is really hard right now.

But here’s the truth: most manufacturers are making it harder on themselves than it needs to be.

Not on purpose. Not because they aren’t trying. Everyone’s grinding— pouring time, money, and energy into filling their open roles.  Yet many are losing ground.

We see it every day:

·         Managers frustrated by delays and inconsistent pipelines

·         HR overwhelmed by logistics, approvals, and last-minute pivots

·         Executives wondering why roles stay open so long — without a clear answer

·         Everyone’s doing their job. But something’s missing.

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The Root Cause Is Bigger than Talent — It’s Structure

It’s easy to blame the labor market. But that mindset puts Indiana manufacturers in a vulnerable position.  It’s a victim mindset.

When the problem is always “out there,” there’s no ownership — and no path to improve.

Meanwhile, the real cost of a broken hiring system stays hidden. No one writes a check for:

·         Candidates who lose interest and disappear

·         Lengthy processes that result in declined offers

·         Slow decisions while the business suffers

·         Overburdened teams covering open roles

This is real money.  A silent profitability killer.  You don’t see it on the P&L.

Most companies tolerate these circumstances.  They acknowledge intellectually that there is a real cost to inefficiency and inaction.  But they don’t behave like it. They live with processes that are organic, reactive, slow, and frustrating.

Indiana manufacturers need a sherpa.  A hiring system that addresses these challenges.

A system that unlocks speed, margin, and establishes control.

The Initiative: Workforce Optimization 2.0

Earlier this year, the IMA named Simply Driven its exclusive workforce strategy partner— and together, we are launching Workforce Optimization 2.0, a statewide initiative to help Indiana manufacturers start running hiring like an operational system.

At the heart of this initiative is a tool called the Workforce Speed Index (WSI) — a 3-minute diagnostic that provides visibility into how companies really hire.

It shows:

·         Where hiring slows down

·         How clearly the process is tracked

·         How fast teams move from open role to start date

In return, it provides:

·         A score that benchmarks execution

·         A breakdown of visibility and velocity

·         A short list of actionable insights to improve

There’s no prep. No meeting. No pressure. Just insight.

Why This Matters Now

We all know manufacturing in Indiana is under pressure.

Most companies are flying blind when it comes to their hiring performance. Working harder within sub-optimal processes has reached a point of diminishing returns.

Workforce strategy needs structure, measurement, visibility, and accountability.

You’re working harder than you need to.  The WSI is how we start to change that.  We built this for you. See the WSI at WorkforceSpeedIndex.com.