In the dynamic landscape of Queensland’s manufacturing sector, small and medium-sized business owners often find themselves grappling with workforce challenges that can keep them up at night.
We sat down with Tina Pholi, Industry Workforce Advisor with Manufacturing Skills Queensland (MSQ), to explore the common themes and challenges she encounters while supporting manufacturers in building their workforce plans.
Tina, who works closely with businesses through the Industry Workforce Advisor program funded by the Queensland Government, shares her insights on the recurring issues that manufacturers face. The key takeaway is that you’re not alone, and a well-designed workforce plan can help.
Leadership Development Gaps
“One of the most prevalent challenges I see is the struggle to develop effective leaders,” Tina explains.
“Many skilled workers are promoted to supervisory roles without adequate preparation. This transition can be daunting and impacts team productivity if not managed well.”
Technological Adaptation
As manufacturing processes evolve, so must workforce strategies. Tina notes, “Businesses often struggle to align their workforce planning with advancing technologies. It’s crucial for maintaining competitiveness, but it requires a strategic approach to upskilling and sometimes restructuring teams.”
Succession Planning Concerns
“Ensuring smooth leadership transitions and effective knowledge transfer is a common worry for business owners,” Tina shares.
“Many realise the importance of succession planning but find it challenging to implement effectively.”
Skill Gap Identification and Resolution
Tina emphasizes the importance of proactive skill development: “Identifying and addressing skill deficiencies before they become critical is a key challenge. It’s about anticipating future needs and preparing the workforce accordingly.”
Mental Health and Wellbeing
Navigating mental health challenges in the workplace can be daunting, but with the right resources, it’s possible to build resilience and thrive.
Recognising the importance of mental health and building resilience to Queensland manufacturers, MSQ has released four short online courses. These courses focus on mental health, and building resilience for leaders and employees.
Tina said the courses were perfect for manufacturers as they were designed to help leaders understand how to effectively deal with mental health in the workplace, and to influence resilience in teams.
“As leaders in manufacturing, understanding your role in addressing mental health issues is crucial. This includes recognising signs of anxiety, depression, and substance abuse, while also being aware of your legal obligations under the psychosocial hazards code of practice.”
“Integrating wellbeing strategies into workforce planning is essential but often overlooked.”
“These programs create positive work cultures, boost organisational resilience, and significantly improve employee wellbeing. The result is a healthier, more productive manufacturing environment.
“When manufacturers build mental health and resilience programs into their workforce planning and action plans, they significantly enhance their employee value proposition.
“The return on investment extends far beyond compliance—it drives engagement, reduces turnover, and creates a workplace culture that attracts top talent who recognize that their wellbeing is valued as much as their productivity,” says Tina.
Navigating Business Owner Pressures
Recognising the unique challenges faced by business owners, Tina adds, “Many owners feel isolated in their decision-making. They need support tailored to their specific challenges, from strategic planning to personal development.”
Tina stresses that effective workforce planning can be the key to addressing these challenges. “Workforce planning isn’t just about staffing numbers,” she explains.
“It’s a comprehensive approach that connects businesses with solutions to these pressing issues.”
The Industry Workforce Advisor program offers hands-on support and user-friendly tools to help businesses navigate these complexities. By working closely with manufacturers, Tina helps develop tailored action plans that address immediate concerns while building resilience for future challenges.
“When I work with manufacturers, my goal is to shift businesses from reactive to proactive workforce management,” Tina concludes.
“By addressing these common themes through strategic workforce planning, we’re helping Queensland’s manufacturers build skilled, adaptable teams ready for tomorrow’s industry demands.”
For small and medium-sized manufacturers looking to tackle these workforce challenges head-on, the Industry Workforce Advisor program offers an invaluable opportunity to gain expert insights and develop robust strategies.
To learn more about how this program can benefit your business, contact Manufacturing Skills Queensland and take the first step towards building a workforce that’s ready for the future.
The Industry Workforce Advisor program is an initiative of the Queensland Government, designed to support small and medium sized businesses enabling them to address workforce challenges, diversify their workforces, and support workforce growth.
The Industry Workforce Advisor program is funded by the Queensland Government as part of the Good people. Good jobs: Queensland Workforce Strategy 2022-2032.
The Building Resilience for Leaders and Employees and Mental health awareness training for Leaders and Employees are part of Manufacturing Skills Queensland’s 2024-25 Annual Training Plan and are available at no cost to leaders and employees working in manufacturing and employed by Queensland-based manufacturers. Manufacturers outside Queensland, employees working outside Queensland, and non-manufacturing industries can access the courses for a fee. The information provided in these courses is for educational and informational purposes only and does not substitute professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. For any advice, assessment, diagnoses, or treatment of a mental health condition, please seek professional and qualified advice. If you are experiencing a mental health crisis or immediate distress, call Lifeline on 13 11 14 or 000 if concerned about your or someone else’s safety.