Putting the Human Back in HR: Martinrea's Success Story With TeamSense

In the fast-paced world of automotive manufacturing, it is easy for HR to become buried under spreadsheets, paperwork, and attendance tracking. In this webinar, Shanna Wilson, HR Manager at Martinrea, explains how her team flipped the script. By automating the "robotic" parts of HR, Martinrea has reclaimed the time needed to focus on the "human" parts: employee well-being, engagement, and retention.

The Challenge: Manual Processes Stalling Culture

Before partnering with TeamSense, Martinrea faced several common industry hurdles:

• The Attendance Black Box: Managers struggled with delayed information regarding call-offs, making it difficult to adjust lines at the start of a shift.

• Communication Gaps: Reaching a diverse, deskless workforce meant relying on outdated methods that didn't guarantee the message was received.

• High Administrative Load: HR was spending a disproportionate amount of time on data entry and attendance policing rather than employee development.

Redefining Employee Support at Martinrea

During this 45-minute session, Shanna Wilson breaks down the specific steps Martinrea took to modernize their frontline operations while keeping the employee experience at the center.

1. Frictionless Communication

Martinrea recognized that their employees are "mobile-first." By implementing an SMS-based system, they ensured that every worker could report an absence or receive a company update in seconds, without needing to download an app or remember a password.

2. Empowering Managers with Real-Time Data

Automation didn't just help HR; it transformed the shop floor. Supervisors now receive instant notifications of absences, allowing them to cross-train and move personnel effectively before production is impacted. This reduces shift-start stress for both managers and employees.

3. Proactive Rather Than Reactive HR

By using the data collected through TeamSense, Martinrea can identify trends in absenteeism or disengagement early. This allows HR to step in with supportive coaching or resource referrals (like EAP services) before a minor issue leads to a resignation.

Key Takeaways from the Webinar

• The "Human" ROI: How reducing the time spent on attendance tracking directly correlates to higher employee satisfaction.

• Change Management: Shanna shares her tips for getting buy-in from both leadership and the frontline when introducing new technology.

• A Culture of Transparency: How consistent, digital record-keeping builds trust by ensuring everyone is held to the same fair standard.

Frequently Asked Questions

How did the frontline staff react to the switch to TeamSense? Shanna discusses the high adoption rates at Martinrea, noting that employees appreciated the respect for their time and the simplicity of a text-based interface.

What was the biggest operational win? Beyond the time savings, the biggest win was the improvement in "shift-start readiness." Having an accurate headcount the moment the shift begins has drastically reduced downtime and "chaos" on the floor.

Is Your HR Team Ready to Go "Human-First"?

Learn how Martinrea turned their HR department from a cost center into a culture driver. Watch the replay to see the exact workflows they used to streamline operations and put their people first.

Webinar Length: 45 mins