Language Diversity, Localization, and Manufacturing

We recently received a note here at the Gateway Magazine Headquarters from our friend Salvador Ordorica. Salvador is the CEO and Founder of The Spanish Group who proposed an article dealing with a language gap in the manufacturing community, which we found particularly interesting as it can leave some of us in a vulnerable position if we’re not adept to, well, adapting our management styles to best position the skillsets and communicative efforts of our workforce.

Salvador noted that a lack of diversity in languages is hitting manufacturers where it hurts the most— in the bottom line, according to data which you’ll find cited below. Two statistics that act as the general overview of the impending dialogue are these:

1. 22% of companies reporting losing opportunity/ income due to limited language skills/access
2. 75% of manufacturers surveyed said they have need for diverse language skills

The issue of a prospective language gap amongst our community is critical as, on a global level, 96% of the world’s consumers and two-thirds of its purchasing power exist outside of the United States. Sure, the Gateway Magazine network is located her in the Northeast, but our customer sets aren’t exclusive to our finite geographic locale. So, we thought the following article penned by Salvador would be of great interest to all of you, serving as a mode of thinking about ways to overcome the language gap and the areas that manufacturers here in our humble part of the world, across the country, and abroad.

Factors that contribute to the language diversity gap

A lack of language diversity may be more of a significant concern in the US where language skills are not prioritized within the educational system. As more companies conduct business internationally, a lack of multilingual talent becomes a serious liability which can impact the ability to connect and communicate with potential consumers or clients.

For manufacturers, the language diversity gap isn’t just a problem in foreign markets. It’s also become a growing crisis domestically. In 2019, a survey conducted by language teaching and learning, not-for- profit organization ACTFL (www.actful.org), revealed that nine out of ten employers relied on U.S.-based workers who speak languages other than English. For manufacturers, this language diversity gap can lead to workforce challenges and even safety problems arising from miscommunication in the workplace.

Recommendations to bridge the language gap

Bridging the gap between the languages your workforce speaks and the language diversity your growing business needs is an essential effort for manufacturers. Here are a few steps to fostering a linguistically diverse workforce.

Analyze language needs

In order to define whether your organization could use more linguistic diversity, it helps to know the languages your workforce speaks. It’s also worthwhile to connect with HR to consider how your recruitment process can cultivate a pipeline that meets both current and anticipated language needs.

Offer language training

Investing in language training as part of a professional development program takes time and resources but it can help manufacturers develop a linguistically and culturally diverse workforce. There’s also evidence indicating that language training provides many other benefits to both the workforce and employers, such as increased employee satisfaction, retention, and productivity. A 2017 Entrepreneur article by writer Ryan McMunn cites research revealing that 70% of workers feel more confident in their work and interaction upon completion of language training.

Get creative

Expanding the linguistic diversity of your manufacturing workforce may mean thinking creatively about how to bring more people from different backgrounds to your leadership or management teams. Consider making some positions remote to recruit more diverse applicants and foster a multilingual environment that encourages language learning.

Consider translation

Manufacturing and logistics rely on effectively communicating and executing complicated processes. In many cases, miscommunication as a result of language barriers can result in safety concerns, increased costs, legal liability, and lost revenue for manufacturers. Because developing a linguistically diverse workforce requires time, it makes sense to invest in professional translation services to fill immediate needs and address the most pressing problems.

Manufacturers who invest in developing a linguistically diverse workforce are not only bridging today’s language diversity gap. These companies are positioning themselves for accelerated growth and success in an increasingly global market where the languages your company speaks make the difference and speak volumes about who and what you value.