The jobless rate for those with a disability climbed twice as high as the jobless rate for those without in 2021, according to a Bureau of Labor Statistics survey . In this case, unemployed people were defined as those who did not have a job and were trying to find one. Leaders at Hutchinson Aerospace & Industry, Inc. , a manufacturing innovator and global leader in engineering shock, vibration and motion control solutions, have been working with local non-profits Mid-Michigan Industries (MMI) and ASPIRE to hire people with disabilities at its plants. Hutchinson has discovered that doing so not only benefits the new hires but also current employees and the company overall.
Working toward a more inclusive workplace “has been a win-win-win for our employees, for our business and for the folks from MMI who without these programs wouldn’t have meaningful employment,” said Bob Anderson, CEO of Hutchinson Aerospace and Industry, Inc. When the Hutchinson’s Ithaca, Michigan, plant experienced labor shortages, leadership came up with a plan. Plant manager Brandy Dufrene reached out to MMI, a non-profit in the central Michigan area. Now, MMI coaches workers directly onsite at the Ithaca plant training and overseeing people served to work at the plant. MMI uses the term “people served” to describe the people with disabilities who work with MMI to serve as employees at the plant.
“Having the opportunity to affect people’s lives in this way is absolutely wonderful,” Dufrene said. “I find enjoyment and fulfillment in that. We are very honored to have MMI here as part of our team.” The MMI team has taken on overflow work from the Molding operations. This extra help with bar code labeling and general trimming has freed up time for other employees to learn to operate new machines.
“We can ultimately get better efficiency from our employees when they can focus on specific work responsibilities,” Anderson said. “MMI has been serving the Michigan area for almost 50 years now,” Dufrene said. “Their mission is to create inclusive communities. They have been teaching important life and job skills to the people served at our plant.” Dufrene said the benefits of working with MMI and the people served goes beyond having extra manpower in the plant.
“As a team, we really enjoy seeing people feel fulfilled in their jobs. The people served have wonderful attitudes, which has spread positive morale throughout the plant. It’s truly remarkable.” Anderson agreed, highlighting the importance of Hutchinson’s value of inclusion.
“This opportunity to enrich people’s work and lives adds a dimension to manufacturing that some people may not have thought of.” Ultimately, hiring the people served and working with the local nonprofit was such a success for the Ithaca plant that Hutchinson’s Hopkinton, Massachusetts, plant started a similar program. “Our HR person in Hopkinton reaches out to ASPIRE, which is similar to MMI,” Anderson explained. For the past three months, ASPIRE coaches have been empowering people served to work at the Hopkinton plant. The plant manager in Hopkinton, along with her respective production leaders, works with the coaches from ASPIRE to each week look at what work is available and find a match between the people served and the job—for example, assembly of small parts, trimming and labeling.
“We are striving to create a positive environment, and it starts with how our employees feel about the work they’re doing,” Anderson said. Anderson recommended that manufacturers and plants who value inclusion look for a local non-profit like MMI or ASPIRE in their city. “[Programs like MMI and ASPIRE] work,” he said. “These nonprofit organizations are truly made up of some of the most outstanding individuals.” Anderson noted that the coaches at the non-profits play a crucial role in spurring the people served toward a successful career in manufacturing.
“The coaches are critical support in these programs.” Though the number of unemployed people with disabilities decreased by several percentage points from 2021 to 2022, many are still looking for work.
