Tips for Surviving a Manufacturing Plant Closing

Threats of a manufacturing plant closing are the worst nightmare of those who work in the manufacturing field. However, as corporations try to cut costs wherever they can, manufacturing plant closings have become more widespread. As someone who has experienced a plant closing firsthand, I know the pain that can accompany the announcement that your job is lost since the manufacturing plant that you are working in is closing. Here are some tips for dealing with your manufacturing plant closing.

First, once your manufacturing plant closing has been announced, you should update your resume. No matter what your job title or role is, it is important that you take inventory of what you have contributed to the organization so that you let future employers know that you can be a valuable asset to them. Many companies will provide outplacement resources in addition to a severance package, giving a cushion to those affected by the plant closing.

Next, try to be as flexible as possible. Unless your product has been discontinued, your plant closing will most likely mean that your product must be produced somewhere else. In the case of my plant closing, staff was needed for 18 months after the plant closing was announced to allow for ramp-up of the new manufacturing site. While it is difficult to think that someone else will be getting your job, being flexible and working until the plant is finally closed can allow you additional time to look for a new job (of course, if you have found a new job, you will probably not want to work through the end of the plant closing). Consider transferring to a new manufacturing plant location within your company if this is a possibility for you.

Finally, consider counseling to discuss the plant closing. At the manufacturing plant in which I worked, most employees did not want to accept counseling to talk about the loss incurred by the plant closing. Manufacturing plants are usually a fairly tough environment and certainly not a place where one will usually let one's guard down. However, the plant closing was very tough to take for all involved, especially since there were no comparable jobs in the area. Talking about the plant closing can help you to deal with the loss before moving on to a new job.

Plant closings can be extremely difficult to deal with, especially when the plant closing means impending job loss. These tips should help you to deal with this difficult process.