In today's labor market, the ability to immediately summon a workforce by simply sending a text may seem like a fantasy. But for TSG Resolute, a small manufacturer in Americus, Georgia, it's reality, thanks to a unique partnership with Atlanta-based communication and scheduling software staffing company Casi, brought about by the Manufacturing team at the Georgia Center of Innovation.

TSG Resolute makes a wide array of products used by other manufacturers, notably gaskets, thermal insulation, and electrical insulators. As the Covid-19 outbreak hit in 2020, the leadership team discussed ways the company might be able to help in mitigation efforts while retaining their workforce. Sales team members visited hospitals in Atlanta and in nearby Crisp County and learned that what was most needed were face shields.

TSG/Casi 1"They sent photos, and it turned out we had all the materials available to make face shields that go over N-95 masks, " says Reagan Barksdale, President of TSG Resolute. "We jumped right in and went from making none on Thursday to 10,000 a day on Monday. "

Georgia Southwestern University, especially its athletic department, was key in initial assembly and distribution efforts. But as the pandemic deepened, the labor shortage became an issue for TSG Resolute, just as it was throughout the world. The company simply needed more people, and that's when they called on the Georgia Center of Innovation, a division of the Georgia Department of Economic Development, for help.

Barksdale had met John Morehouse, Director of the Center's Manufacturing team, while working with him and Georgia Manufacturing Extension Partnership (GaMEP) West Region Manager, Derek Woodham, in a partnership to supply Kia's Georgia plant with face shield materials. Woodham and Barksdale held an initial call with the Center of Innovation team thinking perhaps an app could be developed at Georgia Tech or another university to connect the company with potential workers. Instead, Morehouse suggested that TeamWRX, based in Atlanta and part of the state's Advanced Technology Development Center (ATDC), might be able to help.

"My colleagues in the Center of Innovation Logistics team and our Executive Director had been working with TeamWRX on other projects, " says Morehouse. "When I shared TSG's needs, they referred me to Casi, a sister company that had designed a software suite to serve a very similar purpose. I held an initial conversation with Casi, and they were excited by the opportunity to help manufacturers, especially in Georgia. I was thrilled because if the project was a success, it could help not only TSG but could serve as a model for manufacturers around the state to implement an innovative, flexible workforce solution that's good for companies and workers alike. "

TSG/Casi 2"We met with Casi and worked with them, facilitated by the state, for about a year before launching the texting platform. We began using it for internal communications and were then able to structure it for communicating with the part-time employees who would be assembling face shield kits offsite, " says Barksdale.

Over 500 people in the community – professionals as well as retirees – signed up to be parttime contract workers, and lines of cars initially wrapped around TSG Resolute's Pack Center as individuals arrived to pick up assembly kits. Casi has helped streamline the process, and it works so well that TSG Resolute's process now includes not only face shields but also assembly kits for their core products like lighting, insulation, and appliances.

On a daily basis, 50 to 100 people work on TSG Resolute assemblies. Each morning, parts are delivered from the plant to TSG Resolute's Pack Center.

"Using the Casi system, we are able to text individuals about open opportunities, " says Customer Service Manager Jason Williams. "Once they respond and accept, we label the box or boxes for them to pick up, and they can come to the Pack Center and pick up parts that day. We request that these parts be returned to the Pack Center in one or two days for quality inspections and forwarding to our customers. "

TSG/Casi 3Williams says TSG Resolute has been able to increase the number of parts packed thanks to this part-time labor force.

"We are constantly working to make sure we have enough parts at the Pack Center to have opportunities available, as many are claimed within minutes, " he states.

"Working with the TSG Resolute team has been a win-win for both organizations, " says Casi CEO Justin Rainer. "TSG came to Casi with a new idea around creating a pool of on-demand employees that could assemble products at home. Casi's innovative on-demand scheduling through text messaging allowed TSG to optimize their scheduling process. We couldn't be more excited to partner with forward-thinking clients like TSG. "

"Casi's system is built on people who want flexibility – the ability to earn a paycheck while working safely and comfortably in their homes. Not everyone can stand on a plant floor every day, " says Barksdale. "We train through videos and pictures tied to the Casi software and do quality checks onsite when people deliver the finished assemblies. We're just a text message away from enough people to pack for us, so we're able to grow our plants, contribute to the local workforce, and invest in more assets. "

TSG/Casi 4Barksdale says he communicates with the Center of Innovation regularly. "We know they're here to help when we need it, " he says. "If companies have issues, they should reach out to the Center. Usually the Center of Innovation knows people they can connect you with. They certainly steered us in the right direction. I would encourage anyone to use them, whether it's for materials, processes or just for something that you don't know how to find. They're very connected to resources in Georgia. "

To connect with the Georgia Center of Innovation to identify ways it can help your Georgia business, visit georgia. org/center-of-innovation.