The automotive industry is at a crossroads, facing immense challenges due to technological disruptions and market shifts.
Shared driving services like Lyft and Uber, the rise of electric and autonomous vehicles, and increased global competition are reshaping the landscape. With over a million electric vehicles on U.S. roads by 2019 and continued pressure from regulations and trade policies, manufacturers must find new ways to stay competitive.
In the face of these difficulties, automotive companies are turning to digitalization and automation to improve efficiency. Yet, according to reports, fewer than 30% of CEOs and only 7% of employees feel these efforts have been truly successful.
One key to improving efficiency while reducing costs is empowering the frontline leaders who manage the day-to-day operations. These leaders make up over 80% of the automotive workforce, and their ability to engage and motivate employees directly impacts productivity and performance. Improving frontline leadership doesn’t just benefit the leaders themselves; it enhances the entire workforce and significantly boosts the company’s bottom line.
Manufacturers with DPS (Digital Production System) from POWERS can leverage real-time insights, data-driven decision-making tools, and strategic support to elevate frontline leadership. By providing actionable data and fostering collaboration across departments, DPS empowers leaders to drive operational excellence, leading to improved performance and cost reductions. In this guide, we’ll explore how improving frontline leadership through DPS can transform your organization’s productivity and help you navigate today’s competitive landscape.
The Automotive Industry’s Struggles—and the Path Forward
The automotive industry is facing a revolution with the rapid advancement of AI, automation, and electric vehicles. Traditional drivetrain component builders are finding their markets disrupted as the shift toward EVs and autonomous cars accelerates. At the same time, global trade regulations and emerging low-cost competitors are driving up costs and challenging profitability.
To combat these challenges, automotive executives must find innovative ways to cut costs, improve efficiency, and get the most from their workforce. And as companies look for ways to do more with fewer employees due to workforce reductions, investing in frontline leadership becomes essential. Frontline leaders are best positioned to engage workers, improve daily processes, and increase overall productivity, making their role more critical than ever.
DPS provides real-time data on production metrics, employee performance, and operational bottlenecks, enabling leaders to make informed decisions and address issues before they escalate.
Why Frontline Leaders are Crucial to Success
Frontline leaders are the backbone of the automotive workforce. They are closest to the operations, managing critical processes and interacting directly with employees. When well-trained and motivated, frontline leaders can inspire their teams, improve workflow, and address problems before they affect the production line.
However, according to Harvard Business Review, frontline leaders motivated by positive factors like purpose, curiosity, and excitement perform significantly better than those driven by economic pressure or fear. This insight underscores the need for companies to focus on improving not just the skills but the mindset of their frontline leaders.
DPS enhances this by offering tools that allow leaders to monitor team performance, track progress toward goals, and provide real-time feedback. By integrating AI-powered insights and advanced reporting features, DPS helps frontline leaders focus on what matters most—driving improvements and keeping teams engaged.
How to Empower Frontline Leaders with DPS
Improving frontline leadership requires more than just training—it demands a holistic approach that empowers leaders to take control of their teams and operations. Here’s how DPS helps manufacturers improve frontline leadership:
1Reduce Emotional and Economic Pressure
High-pressure motivation tactics, such as public shaming or strict sales targets, often do more harm than good. Instead, DPS’s real-time insights help leaders understand their team’s performance without relying on high-stress metrics. Companies can foster a more supportive and effective work environment by eliminating tactics that cause unnecessary emotional and economic pressure.
With DPS, frontline leaders can set and track clear performance benchmarks in real-time, allowing for more constructive feedback and guidance rather than punitive measures. This approach encourages employees to perform their best, improving overall morale and reducing turnover.
Key Benefits:
- Reduces reliance on punitive performance measures
- Encourages a positive work environment with constructive feedback
- Improves employee retention and morale
2Encourage Creativity and Experimentation
Frontline leaders play a crucial role in fostering team creativity and problem-solving. Leaders can unlock innovation on the shop floor by allowing employees to experiment and suggest improvements. DPS’s data-driven insights help identify areas for improvement and allow leaders to experiment with different strategies to enhance workflow and efficiency.
With DPS, frontline leaders can quickly analyze the impact of these experiments, adjusting course as needed to find the best solutions. The system provides actionable insights that guide decisions, empowering leaders to lead with confidence and drive continuous improvement.
Key Benefits:
- Promotes a culture of innovation and creativity
- Provides data to support decision-making and process improvements
- Encourages a more engaged and motivated workforce
3Create a Sense of Purpose
Connecting daily tasks to the organization’s broader goals and customer impact is a powerful way to motivate frontline workers. DPS enables leaders to show their teams how their efforts contribute to the company’s success. By providing real-time performance data and tracking progress toward company-wide objectives, DPS helps leaders tie everyday actions to the bigger picture.
This sense of purpose boosts employee engagement and fosters a greater sense of accountability. When frontline workers see how their contributions impact the company’s performance and customer satisfaction, they become more invested in their work.
Key Benefits:
- Helps employees connect their efforts to organizational success
- Increases accountability and ownership over tasks
- Improves overall employee engagement and satisfaction
The Long-Term Benefits of Frontline Leadership Improvement
Investing in frontline leadership has immediate and long-term benefits for the automotive industry. According to Forbes, companies that foster a positive work environment see a 21% increase in productivity and save on costs related to employee turnover. Improving frontline leadership increases efficiency and creates a more dedicated, engaged workforce.
DPS amplifies these benefits by providing frontline leaders with the necessary success tools. From real-time data tracking to AI-driven insights, DPS equips leaders with the information and strategies to make informed decisions, improve operations, and motivate teams. By investing in leadership development and using the power of DPS, automotive companies can drive long-term success and stay competitive in an evolving market.
Transform Your Frontline Leadership with DPS
At POWERS, we’ve perfected our approach to frontline leadership development through years of experience in large-scale manufacturing. Now, with DPS, we bring that expertise to the next level by offering real-time insights and advanced tools to improve leadership performance across the board.
Frontline leadership improvement isn’t just a way to boost performance—it’s a strategic necessity in today’s competitive market. With DPS, manufacturers can empower their frontline leaders, improve operational efficiency, and increase profitability.