Northwest Industry Develops Plan in Response to the Reduction in Working Hours
The reduction in working hours in Mexico has led the manufacturing and industrial sectors in the northern part of the country to adjust their operating models, with goals of a 25% increase in productivity, by prioritizing process automation and work reorganization rather than passing on the additional costs to the final price of products.
Regional industry executives agreed that the key challenge in the current context is to remain competitive by increasing production while reducing working hours. Carlos Ramos, CEO of Viakable, emphasized that, given the new work environment, organizations must prioritize increasing the efficiency of their plants before raising consumer costs.
The proposal emphasizes that setting continuous improvement goals—with productivity targets of up to 25 percent—enables the company to absorb operational increases resulting from reduced working hours. This requires a thorough analysis of manufacturing processes, the elimination of bottlenecks, and the maximization of performance per shift.
Gerardo Meza, chair of the Human Capital and Labor Affairs Committee of AmCham/Mexico, Northwest Chapter, stated that the country is at a historic juncture in talent management.
“The regulatory changes we are facing today require us to step up, which is why we must move from time management to a true strategy focused on productivity, compliance, and the overall well-being of our people in each of our businesses,” he said.
