Today, companies across the supply chain face a mix of challenges—from unpredictable demand and labor shortages to rising operational costs and heightened customer expectations. One of the more pressing issues is the widening gap in staffing, which impacts productivity, accuracy, and efficiency across logistics and fulfillment operations.
Back in 2017, nearly 25% of the US manufacturing workforce was 55 or older, a demographic signaling a labor shortage as that 25% approaches retirement age. According to Deloitte, the net need for new employees in manufacturing could be around 3.8 million between 2024 and 2033. Around half of these open jobs (1.9 million) could remain unfilled if manufacturers are not able to address the staffing gap and the skills gap.
To navigate this, manufacturers are turning to a layered workforce strategy—a blend of full-time, part-time, and contingent workers like freelancers, independent contractors, or temporary staff—to meet shifting operational needs. This model allows businesses to scale their workforce, optimize labor costs, and maintain service and production levels during peak periods or unexpected disruptions.
Using an automated labeling system also plays an important role in bridging staffing and skills gaps. By reducing manual tasks and streamlining workflows, automation helps a diverse workforce operate more efficiently, regardless of employment type. In this blog, we’ll take a closer look at how automated labeling helps fill staffing gaps and supports a more flexible, layered workforce.
LEARN DIFFERENT WAYS YOU CAN AUTOMATE LABEL PRINTING
When supply chains rely on a mix of full-time, part-time, and contingent workers, keeping labeling processes consistent becomes a real challenge. Manual labeling depends heavily on standard operating procedures (SOPs), which can be hard for contingent workers to learn quickly.
These workers often face steep learning curves, including:
Without proper training and clear guidance, errors are more likely to happen. And in labeling, small mistakes can lead to big problems—like shipping delays, product recalls, or fines for compliance violations. These issues hurt customer trust and can cost companies significant time and money.
That's why consistency is critical. Every label must be accurate, no matter who prints it. A reliable labeling process helps ensure all workers—no matter their role or level of experience—can follow the same steps and produce the expected results.
Parker Hannifin, a global leader in motion and control technologies, faced this exact problem. Their labeling process relied on manual data entry from ERP systems and traveler tags, which led to frequent transcription errors and delays. Operators had to select the correct label format and enter customer-specific data manually—an error-prone process, especially with varying label requirements. As Dave Schoeff, IT Technical Analyst at Parker Hannifin, explained:
“We needed the ability to print barcode labels for our products with minimal user data entry. We had to find a way to encode the customer-requested information and formats, but we needed to use serialized labels from a central database on our server.”
By implementing an automated labeling system, Parker Hannifin reduced manual steps, improved label accuracy, and gained better control over their labeling process—making it easier for any worker to print the right label every time.
Automated labeling systems help overcome the challenges associated with a new or layered workforce. Instead of relying on workers to manually enter label data, memorize step-by-steps, or follow SOPs, automation makes the process simple and consistent.
With automation:
By reducing manual tasks and standardizing the process, automated labeling helps every worker perform with confidence. It’s a good way to keep operations running smoothly when staffing is tight or there’s employee turnover.
A layered workforce strategy gives companies the flexibility to meet changing demands by using a mix of full-time, part-time, and on-demand labor. But for this strategy to work well, every worker needs to be able to contribute quickly, which is where automation comes in.
Automation simplifies complex tasks, like labeling, so temporary or seasonal workers can jump in with minimal training. Instead of spending hours learning how to select the right label template or operate a label printer, automated systems guide users through the process or handle it entirely, reducing onboarding time and training overhead.
This is especially helpful during peak seasons or labor shortages, when manufacturers need to scale up fast. Automated labeling makes it easier to bring in extra help without sacrificing accuracy or speed. It ensures every label is correct, helping businesses stay efficient and compliant when their workforce is constantly changing.
For example, SENTINEL label printing automation software facilitates label printing from an ERP, WMS, MES, or other business system. This means label data can flow directly from the systems your teams already use, reducing manual entry and speeding up workflows.
In short, automation supports a layered workforce by making labeling faster, easier, and more reliable—so teams can stay productive when staffing levels fluctuate.
As supply chains grow more complex and labor models become more flexible, automation is a necessity. Automated label printing helps organizations:
By minimizing manual steps and standardizing processes, automation helps every worker contribute effectively. It’s a smart investment in both workforce flexibility and long-term operational success. Get in touch to learn more about automated label printing.
Or request a personalized demo of SENTINEL automation software.
Adina Harris-Ollarvia is a Senior Business Development Representative and Team Lead at TEKLYNX. She is passionate about sales, improving processes, and staying ahead of potential business problems. She thrives on meeting customers where they are and delivering high quality solutions! When not working, she loves going to live music festivals, reading books, and watching reality TV.
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