Intertech Products

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Intertech Products Moves Labor Decisions Closer to the Work to Keep Up with Changing Demand

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Intertech Products, based in North Manchester, Indiana, serves customers across automotive, transportation, and industrial packaging. A significant portion of its business is tied to Tier 1 and OEM automotive suppliers, where production schedules are driven by downstream demand and can shift quickly.

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About 40% of Intertech’s work supports these customers. As their schedules change, Intertech’s production requirements change with them. This variability is not occasional. It is part of how the operation runs day to day.

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“Our schedule is dictated by what their schedule is. So we have had some fluctuations where we've had to post more ops and then there have been times where we really haven't had to post many, if any, ops at all.”

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Managing that variability used to fall on HR. Recruiting, scheduling, and onboarding created delays that made it difficult to respond as conditions changed. As demand moved, the process of filling gaps lagged behind it.

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Moving Decisions Closer to the Work

Intertech changed where those decisions were made.

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Instead of routing labor needs through HR, supervisors began managing coverage directly. They already understood the schedules, the work, and where gaps were emerging. Shifting responsibility to the floor reduced the delay between identifying a need and responding to it.

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“Our supervisors create the ops through Veryable and do the approvals and they also do all the rating.”

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This change removed the need for coordination across teams and allowed decisions to be made in the moment, as conditions changed on the floor.

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Building Around the Core Workforce

As demand fluctuates, Intertech adjusts labor based on what needs to be produced that day.

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When work increases, additional operators can be brought in. When demand slows, they are not required to carry excess labor. This creates a flexible layer around the full-time team instead of stretching it to absorb every change.

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“We can post the ops when we need it, when things slow down, we don't post the op. So it gives us that core protection of our workforce and just builds around that for the needs that we have.”

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Over time, this approach has allowed Intertech to maintain consistency on the floor while still responding to variability in demand.

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Supporting Flexibility for Operators and the Local Community

The model also creates flexibility for operators while strengthening the local labor ecosystem.

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Operators can move between facilities based on availability, and Intertech can bring in additional support as needed without long-term commitments. This flexibility extends beyond a single operation.

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“We very much like the fact that operators can maybe work here one day and go down the street and work for somebody else the next day.”

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Intertech has also worked with local organizations like Grow Wabash County to introduce other manufacturers to the model, helping more businesses address similar gaps in coverage.

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Preparing for New Product Lines

With new product lines being introduced, the ability to adjust labor without delay becomes more important.

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Instead of hiring ahead of uncertain demand, Intertech can add capacity as work comes in. This reduces risk while allowing the operation to take on additional work.

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“So why wouldn't you want to use Veryable if you can get people in and help fill the gaps and you don't have to burden or overwhelm your existing workforce.”

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What Changed

Intertech moved from managing labor through centralized coordination to managing it on the floor as needs change:

• Coverage is adjusted as demand shifts day to day
• Supervisors respond directly to gaps and call offs
• The core workforce is protected from excess overtime
• Additional capacity can be added without hiring ahead of demand