A manufacturing client was in urgent need of a Lean Manager who could hit the ground running and make an immediate impact. This prominent North American plant was expanding into new regions of the U.S., aiming to boost brand awareness.

However, the challenge of implementing company-wide efficiency measures and metrics was becoming increasingly evident. The firm needed a Lean Manager of Manufacturing with the expertise to manage processes and procedures effectively. This led to the critical question: should they keep executive recruitment in house?

The Recruitment Challenge

The firm’s HR department, lacking solid leadership, found itself without the necessary direction and experience for senior-level hiring. This deficiency made it challenging to meet the demands under the current circumstances. It was time to engage with a partner capable of developing an integrated executive recruiting approach.

The Strategy

Duffy Group implemented a strategy which leveraged Duffy Recruitment Research™, including encompassing a range of methods such as tapping into contacts from industry networks, researching regional targets and applying highly targeted cold-calling strategies. They tailored their approach to meet the client’s specific business needs, which led to the successful identification of candidates with the leadership qualities perfect for the challenging environment.

Combining Duffy Recruitment Research™ and various internet-based strategies, Duffy Group focused on local industrial manufacturing sites currently practicing Lean manufacturing to source candidates with the right level of expertise and experience best suited for the job. Duffy Group’s team used their current contacts and in-house knowledge about companies in the geographic area known for their successful track record of Lean manufacturing practices.

The Duffy Difference

Budget concerns were minimized with Duffy Group’s recruiting model. The fee charged to their client was less than 10% of the candidate’s annual salary, proving substantially more cost-effective than using a traditional retained search firm.

Within 10 business days, two highly qualified candidates were presented for consideration. One of these candidates quickly moved through the interview process and was ultimately hired. These remarkable results were achieved in less than 30 days, thanks to the consultative approach employed. Consequently, the company experienced minimal downtime in implementing organization-wide changes.