How Manufacturers Can Manage Plant Labor More Efficiently with a VMS

In manufacturing, labor management isn’t just about filling shifts - it’s about keeping production lines moving, meeting deadlines, maintaining quality standards, and controlling costs.

But manufacturing labor demands can change quickly. Seasonal spikes, large orders, staffing shortages, or unexpected absences can disrupt even the most efficient schedules.

To stay agile, many manufacturers rely on temporary and contract labor. However, managing contingent labor manually - especially across multiple plants, shifts and staffing vendors - can lead to delays, higher costs, and compliance risks.

The solution? A Vendor Management System (VMS) designed for manufacturing. Here's how a system like Conexis VMS helps streamline plant labor management.

Why Contingent Labor Is Essential in Manufacturing

Contingent workers offer flexibility during seasonal surges, equipment upgrades, or unexpected demand. But without proper visibility and control, manufacturers risk:

Production delays
Budget overruns
Safety violations
Overreliance on certain vendors

👉 Learn more about The Benefits of Contingent Labor

What Is a Vendor Management System (VMS)?

A Vendor Management System is a software platform that centralizes and automates the process of sourcing, onboarding, managing, and tracking temporary labor. For manufacturers, a VMS is critical to optimizing workforce efficiency across locations.

👉 Learn more about What is a Vendor Management System and The Benefits of a Vendor Management System.

How a Vendor Management System (VMS) Streamlines Plant Labor Management

1 - Centralized Staffing Vendor Coordination

One of the biggest challenges manufacturers face is juggling multiple staffing agencies across various plants and locations. Without a centralized system, tracking headcount, roles, and vendor performance can quickly become a logistical nightmare.
A VMS consolidates all your staffing suppliers into one single, easy-to-use platform. HR teams, plant managers, and procurement gain real-time visibility into:

Total contractor headcount at each facility
Job roles and assignments
Current vendor performance and fill rates
Labor spend by vendor, location, or department

This centralized coordination allows you to better balance labor needs across your entire operation. If one plant is short while another has surplus workers, managers can make informed decisions — not guesses — to keep operations running smoothly.

2 - Real-Time Visibility Into Manufacturing Labor

In manufacturing, every minute counts. Lack of real-time labor data can lead to costly consequences like:

Production delays due to understaffing
Budget overruns from unnecessary overtime
Missed shifts and last-minute scheduling chaos

With a VMS like Conexis, you gain real-time visibility into every facet of your contingent labor force. At any moment, you can track:

Who is on shift right now
Total hours worked and remaining in the pay period
Overtime accumulation by worker or department
Shift coverage gaps that need immediate attention

Having this data at your fingertips allows plant leaders to proactively manage labor needs, avoid costly surprises, and optimize workforce allocation to match production demands.

3 - Ensure Compliance and Worker Safety

Manufacturing facilities are heavily regulated environments where safety, training, and compliance are non-negotiable. Allowing unqualified or improperly credentialed workers on the production floor puts both employees and your business at risk.

A VMS simplifies compliance by:

Automatically tracking certifications and safety training completion
Verifying background checks and eligibility before assignments begin
Sending automated alerts for upcoming credential expirations
Preventing non-compliant workers from being scheduled

With these automated safeguards in place, manufacturers can confidently ensure that every worker entering the plant is fully qualified, reducing the risk of accidents, violations, and costly non-compliance penalties.

4 - Accelerate Onboarding and Boost Productivity

Speed is everything in manufacturing - especially when dealing with high-volume contingent labor. Traditional onboarding methods can be slow, inconsistent, and burdensome for both HR and staffing agencies.

With a VMS, onboarding is streamlined through:

Automated workflows that guide vendors and workers through documentation requirements
Digital submission and storage of credentials, tax forms, and safety documents
Immediate system access once onboarding is complete

This reduces time-to-productivity for new temp workers, allowing you to scale up quickly without sacrificing compliance or wasting valuable production time.

Conclusion: Why Manufacturers Need a VMS Like Conexis

Managing contingent labor manually in today’s fast-paced manufacturing environment is unsustainable. The inefficiencies and risks are too great.

A Vendor Management System like Conexis provides manufacturers with the control, visibility, and speed they need to operate efficiently:

Centralized vendor management and cost control
Real-time labor visibility to optimize staffing decisions
Automated compliance tracking to reduce risk
Streamlined onboarding to keep production lines moving

Conexis VMS helps manufacturers build a flexible, agile, and compliant labor strategy - ensuring your production lines stay running and your business stays competitive.

Ready to improve how you manage plant labor?
👉 Schedule a demo of Conexis VMS today.

The Conexis Difference: Conexis VMS for Manufacturing

Conexis has developed unique Vendor Management System (VMS) functionality specifically to support the unique needs of manufacturers. Over 60% of the Conexis user population are in light industrial and manufacturing positions - so we know what it takes to build a VMS system that applies to the requirements of organizations with manufacturing and light industrial staffing needs. From complex work shift arrangements to Health & Safety incident tracking, Conexis has it all to make managing your manufacturing extended workforce easy and fast.

👉 Read more at Conexis VMS for Manufacturing.

Getting Started with a Vendor Management System

Learn more about the Benefits of a Vendor Management System and what to look for when choosing the best VMS for your organization. Download our Free VMS Buyer's Guide here:

Take the Next Step with Conexis VMS

Conexis is an award-winning VMS tailored specifically for mid-market contingent workforce programs. Leveraging the latest technology, Conexis delivers the expertise, reliability and security of enterprise systems, while offering the flexibility, user friendliness and tailored service you require. Conexis delivers enterprise level software - without the enterprise level complexity and cost.

Learn more about our Company and why organizations Choose Conexis VMS.

Whether you are looking to change your VMS solution, or just getting started, we are here to help. Contact Us for a Free No-Obligation Consultation to discuss your workforce challenges (and get immediate actionable insights). See how easy Conexis is to use by taking a quick 2 minute Self-Guided Tour, or Book a Personal Demo Today!