Case Studies

We help our clients achieve profitability during labor disruptions by helping them create a powerful contingency plan that meets their objectives. The following case studies show our diverse industry experience and how we helped each client accomplish their objectives. Our staffing and consulting expertise has also helped companies avoid work stoppage, strikes, layoffs and plant shutdowns.

Contact us for a much deeper, confidential no-cost presentation where we are able to discuss more details of our client engagements and provide you with names and phone numbers of clients.

Review some of our recent project successes below to see how we have helped others in your industry address similar issues to what your company is facing. As you’ll see, we take great pride in operating our clients’ facilities efficiently and profitably, while assisting our clients in reaching equitable contracts with their bargaining units.

To learn more about any of these projects, or to see glowing testimonials from our clients, please reach out to us and we’d be happy to speak with you. Call us at 1-800-205-8732.

Tire and Rubber Manufacturer

Our client, one of the “Top 5” largest domestic tire manufacturers the U.S., achieved net sales of over $1 billion, for the first time ever, during 1Q 2012, which was during a 3-month lockout of 1,050 USW members of its workforce. Since the beginning of contingency planning in 2011, Strom Engineering helped our client plan for their union contract negotiations. When the lockout was announced, Strom deployed a highly skilled, temporary replacement workforce to keep operations running. Our client believes that the new contract achieved following the lockout will enhance the competitiveness of their plant through improvements in productivity.

Mining Company

Strom deployed highly skilled maintenance personnel, welders, heavy equipment operators, and production personnel to the client’s metal mining and smelting operations during a labor dispute. Strom deployed several hundred workers, in the most arduous conditions, who worked and produced well above the established standards.

This project continued until a contract was ratified and for several months beyond, due to a shortage of returning workers. Our client successfully leveraged our services to obtain an equitable contract ratification.

Clothing Manufacturer and Distributor

When our client, a national clothing manufacturer and distributor, experienced an overwhelming increase in demand, they called us. We deployed a managed workforce of 100+ workers for 3-4 months to keep operations and systems running. Strom operated four distribution centers using local and national temporary labor.

East Coast Grocery Chain

Strom assisted in advance planning for a large scale distribution operation anticipating a labor dispute. Strom helped with all facets of operations including a review of crossdock options, logistics, security, and staffing. Thorough and intensive planning helped to avoid a strike.

Prior to engaging Strom, this client had unsuccessfully attempted to develop a number of strike contingency plans. This client credits Strom as the differentiating factor in this project’s success. Subsequently, Strom assisted with traditional, temporary staffing services at multiple locations over a 3-month period to supplement their holiday preparation workforce.

Truck and Tractor Body Manufacturer

Strom launched a successful deployment of 85 highly skilled welders, who worked on aluminum, stainless steel, and both hot and cold rolled steel for a project that lasted 15 weeks. Operations continued throughout the project with little or no disruption.

Cross-Dock

When one of the nation’s largest truck manufacturers was recently threatened with a strike, Strom not only provided manufacturing personnel at plants during the labor disruption, but Strom also secured, staffed, and operated multiple cross-docks across North America to handle the load from our client’s picketed parts distribution centers. Customers continued to be seamlessly supplied with spare parts, and operations continued to receive inventory due to Strom’s complete knowledge of handling logistics during a labor disruption. About 75% of our clients ask us to provide cross-dock planning and operations.

Vinyl Manufacturer

Strom achieved normal, planned production on the ninth day of the strike using a labor force that numbered half that of the union.

Productivity peaked at 262% in the following weeks. While the union workforce performed with a highly respectable defect rate of 0.6%, Strom performed with a defect rate of 0%

Newspaper

Strom helped a large news and media company to plan and execute a contingency plan, including deployment of maintenance and production workers. The resulting short strike caused little to no business disruption, causing the union to accept concessions within two weeks.

Airplane Manufacturer

Assisted in two projects, each requiring significant advance planning to achieve desired results. Supplied CDL drivers and logistic support for each project, and supplied FAA designated engineering representatives on the first.

Truck Manufacturer

Strom operated our client’s facility at normal levels with a workforce numbering 70% of that of the striking bargaining unit. Strom set production records at the facility, including more than doubling the union’s previous output of fuel tank fabrication at a comparable labor cost.

Agricultural Equipment Parts Distribution Center

Strom managed and staffed a cold re-start of the largest parts distribution center in the client’s company. Strom ramped up quickly in response to the busy springtime season, using approximately 60% of the personnel ordinarily doing the work.

Power Company

We successfully planned all aspects of client’s contingency plan that helped them leverage its position and negotiate a fair and reasonable contract. Strom’s experience in providing power generation and distribution personnel in previous strike situations enabled our client to negotiate with increased confidence.

Airline

Strom deployed one temporary FAA certified mechanic for every three in the striking bargaining unit. On-time departures remained at normal levels overall and actually improved in many instances.

Steel Company

Strom set a production record on our client’s hot-dip galvanizing line, which has been unmatched in the 49-year history of operation. Our client’s net sales for 2006 were a record $6.7 billion on shipments of 6,168,600 tons. Strom employees were operating the client’s largest facility 340 days during this record year.

For another steel company client, we provide crane operators on a regular basis during times of union labor shortages. We provide a managed workforce of supervisors and trained hot metal crane operators since they are not available in their geographical area.

Agricultural Equipment Manufacturer

Strom employees set numerous quality and production records at our client’s operations. Our client’s confidence in Strom prompted the launch of a new product during the UAW strike. Strom significantly exceeded expected product output at previously unheard-of quality ratings.

Strom performed advance planning and support that successfully helped avoid a work stoppage at other client locations. Our client effectively utilized Strom’s successful performance during a previous strike as negotiating leverage.

Engine Manufacturer

After a large engine assembly facility went on strike, Strom provided all plant personnel. Output and quality both increased while Strom personnel operated the plant.

Large Helicopter Manufacturer

We provided over 400 skilled temporary workers during a 3-month strike that allowed our client to keep operations running while the company was able to focus on ratifying a fair and equitable contract.

Food Manufacturer

We provided over 200 personnel to keep operations running during a 4-month strike. We successfully identified their needs and participated in several planning sessions throughout the course of the strike, working with the company leadership to identify the right talent with the right opportunities in a complex operational environment.

Automotive Parts Manufacturer

Strom increased overall time savings at our client’s facility by 67% Tasks taking our client’s bargaining unit 35 minutes to complete were accomplished in 12 minutes by Strom workers.

Strom performed with a 0% defective rate. Our client found it necessary to purchase additional air compressors due to the exceptional work ethic of Strom’s employees.

Tire Manufacturer

Strom operated nine struck facilities performing all aspects of tire building including providing maintenance personnel. Successfully operated for 14 weeks and assisted client in obtaining a reasonable contract.

Plastics Manufacturer

Strom operated client’s facility A at 100% with a workforce numbering approximately 56% that of the striking bargaining unit.

Strom operated client’s facility B at a planned 60% with a workforce numbering approximately 19% that of the striking bargaining unit.

Aerospace, Defense and Security Company

We deployed over 300 employees over a 3-year period to build military vehicles when the company couldn’t find skilled workers in their area. Strom Engineering had a presence at three different locations.

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