Linen Supply: Dyan Troxel, HandCraft Linen Services, Richmond, Va.
Staying competitive in today’s market requires embracing automation. Yet, this evolution often brings uncertainty for employees.
The key to navigating this shift is transparency, as people fear the unknown more than the change itself. Present automation not as a replacement for workers, but as a tool to support and empower them.
By automating physically demanding tasks, we can reduce strain and injury, offering relief to many employees. This transition also opens doors for cross-training and more customer-facing roles.
At HandCraft, we pride ourselves on our “high tech, soft touch” approach, combining efficient automation with a human touch to ensure quality and customer satisfaction.
Upskilling is another powerful strategy. Rather than eliminating jobs, we can evolve them.
Training employees in areas like critical thinking, data analytics or troubleshooting not only enhances operations but also shows our commitment to their growth. This investment fosters loyalty and engagement as people see a clear path forward.
A powerful example of this mindset is Dorothy Vaughan, a human computer at NASA. When digital computers emerged, she proactively learned programming and trained her team, transforming a challenge into an opportunity.
Her story reminds us that technology does not signal the end for hard-working people; it marks the beginning of a more dynamic, blended workforce.
Consulting Services: Matthew Alexander, Pertl & Alexander LLC, Manlius, N.Y.
Balancing the need to invest in automation to contain operating costs while maintaining employment opportunities for hard-working people requires a comprehensive strategic plan.
That plan should integrate a market study, a detailed analysis of operations and costs, and a financial assessment that evaluates available resources, anticipated returns, and the long-term sustainability of each investment.
A market study establishes a foundation for decision-making by defining the size and capacity of the market, the prevailing price structure, and the strengths and weaknesses of competitors.
It should also assess the feasibility of expanding existing operations or developing new facilities, considering real estate availability, utility costs, and local labor conditions.
Because automation can significantly reduce per-unit operating costs, understanding how pricing influences competitiveness and growth potential is essential.
An operational analysis provides insight into current and projected costs, processing capacity, and the highest and best use of existing assets. Optimal performance is achieved when productive capacity is devoted to the most profitable work mix possible. This requires evaluating workflow efficiency, equipment utilization, and the human component that drives quality and customer satisfaction.
The strategic plan should synthesize these analyses to project market potential, competitive positioning and long-term cost sustainability. From this foundation, management can assess how automation will affect the workforce and develop a timeline that balances innovation with employment stability.
Investments in automation can then be phased in gradually — aligned with natural attrition, workforce retraining opportunities and financial feasibility — to ensure that the organization remains both competitive and socially responsible.
Ultimately, automation and employment need not be in conflict. When guided by a disciplined strategic plan, they can complement each other — driving growth, preserving jobs through upskilling and securing the organization’s future in a changing industry.
Uniforms/Workwear Manufacturing: Steve Berg, Encompass Group LLC, Pelican Rapids, Minn.
This topic is complex and spurs many different thought processes, some pragmatic and analytical, while many are based on emotion and the unknown. Science fiction movies and books have explored the man vs. machine conflict for years, and the introduction and mainstream adoption of artificial intelligence have shed even more light on the subject.
I mentioned man vs. machine, and I believe there is a tendency to view the issue as a conflict. However, there are plenty of good reasons to look at this as an opportunity to boost growth and improve job quality.
Growth is the lifeblood of any business. In our industry, efficiency is a huge factor that dictates the ability to grow. Automation in our processes can create the efficiencies needed to lower operating costs and make a company more competitive in the marketplace, which leads to customer growth and increased profits. This growth can create new jobs and improve the job satisfaction of current employees by shifting workers to more engaging tasks.
One of the biggest headaches management must endure is recruiting and retaining quality employees. Automating repetitive tasks allows employees to work on more complex and strategic tasks that provide further efficiency and job satisfaction.
I chose the optimistic view of this subject, though there are just as many reasons to have a pessimistic opinion.
Opinions aside, automation and technological advancements will continue to be major factors in our industry. Successful operators will be those who manage the transition well and help their employees adapt to the coming changes.
Check back tomorrow for the conclusion when experts in healthcare laundry and commercial laundry share their insights.
Have a question or comment? E-mail our editor Matt Poe at [email protected].
