Why Foundries Must Modernize Talent Acquisition
How NFFS Is Helping Foundries Replace
“Hire and Hope” with Strategy and Success
The foundry industry is the backbone of American manufacturing, but many of its workforce systems are stuck in the past. As experienced employees retire and younger generations overlook industrial careers, the challenge of finding and keeping skilled workers has become a growing threat to production capacity, innovation, and long-term sustainability.
If your foundry is still relying on outdated methods for hiring and retention, it’s time for a reset. Modernizing your talent acquisition and retention strategy isn’t just a best practice, it’s a business imperative.
The Problem with the Old Way
Many foundries are still operating under the outdated assumption that you can simply hire someone and hope they stay. But hope is not a strategy.
This approach is:
- Time-consuming: Constant turnover means repeatedly starting from scratch.
- Inefficient: Misaligned hires slow down production and frustrate teams.
- Costly: Bad fits result in wasted training, delayed output, and increased recruitment costs.
- Repetitive: Without systems in place, the same mistakes are made over and over.
In today's competitive labor market, foundries can't afford to keep operating this way. It’s not sustainable, and it’s holding you back.
The Case for Modern Talent Systems
To succeed today and into the future, foundries need to implement a strategic, intentional, and scalable workforce approach. That means:
- Recruiting through modern channels, including schools, online platforms, and workforce organizations.
- Offering structured onboarding, mentorship, and training to accelerate learning and improve retention.
- Creating clear career paths that help employees envision long-term futures in your company.
- Using data to evaluate and improve recruitment and retention efforts over time.
When talent acquisition is treated like a core business function, rather than an afterthought, foundries gain more reliable, more engaged, and more productive teams.
A Proven Solution: NFFS Talent Pipeline Program
NFFS Talent Pipeline Program was created to help non-ferrous foundries modernize their workforce approach with practical, effective tools and strategies.
By joining the Talent Pipeline Program, your company will receive:
- A clear framework for improving recruitment,
onboarding, and retention - Practical support in building a local talent pipeline
- Templates, guides, and strategies tailored for the foundry environment
- A peer network of foundry leaders focused on solving the same workforce challenges
- Real outcomes: better hires, reduced turnover, and stronger teams
One participant shared, “This program gave us structure, focus, and confidence. We stopped guessing and started growing.”
Ready to Build a Stronger Workforce?
Modernizing your workforce strategy isn’t a luxury, it’s essential to your foundry’s success.
Don’t wait until you’re short-staffed to take action. Contact Bill Padnos, Director of Workforce Development, at bill@nffs.org, or visit nffs.org/tpp to learn more about how the Talent Pipeline Program can help your foundry grow, retain, and empower your workforce.