In 2019, within the Electrolux plant in Porcia, workforce management was still done in an artisanal way: a magnetic board divided into departments and lines. Each employee was represented by a magnet, to be moved manually at every shift change, every unexpected event, every modification. A system that, however ingenious, could no longer keep up with the complexity of a dynamic and articulated production reality.
The shifts were (and are) complex: full-time and part-time staff, three shifts or eight-hour days, different skills, physical constraints and regulations to comply with. An improvement was sought by switching to Excel, but it soon became clear: a change was needed.
Project Development: A Partnership Born in the Field
This is how AWMS was born: a spin-off project born from a concrete challenge, launched by Electrolux and taken up by the AzzurroDigitale team with a clear objective – to bring workforce planning into the future.
Starting from the Porcia plant, where AWMS was developed side by side with HR, HSE and Operations teams, the project took shape, evolving into a complete and scalable digital platform. In a short time, it was extended to all 10 Electrolux plants in Italy, including the Forlì plant.
With AWMS, Electrolux was able to:
- Plan shifts by integrating data on production, skills, physical constraints and certifications
- Manage sudden absences and production variations in real time
- Collect data directly from the department via tablet
- Analyze actual vs. planned schedule, staff saturation, skill level and rotation
Key features such as Planning, Skill Matrix, Unexpected & Absence Management, Safety, Efficiency have been implemented, as well as Azzurra, the mobile app that allows employees to manage vacation requests, permits, view shifts and receive communications, including clothing vouchers.
AWMS has also integrated an advanced IT system to monitor server status, resource consumption and integration between all company systems.
A complete view of people
With Skill Matrix, each operator is mapped according to planned and actual skills, displayed in a color system that simplifies the understanding of training levels. This tool allows you to monitor progress, identify gaps and enhance the potential of resources.
The Deadlines section offers a detailed overview of upcoming medical visits, with alerts on renewals to be carried out, while in the Limitations area you can quickly access health reports, which can also be viewed through a graphic interface of the human body: intuitive and immediate.
It is possible to associate each type of limitation to the operators, monitoring typology, validity, deadlines and any certifications to attach in PDF or Word.
Results: more efficiency, more control, more people at the center
Today, Electrolux has left whiteboards and Excel sheets behind. The workforce is planned intelligently, integrated and dynamically. Managers have real-time control of production efficiency, while workers finally have visibility and autonomy, even from mobile.
But the greatest achievement is not just technological. It is cultural.
Because AWMS was born by listening to people’s needs, and continues to grow every day, together with those who work in the plants, from Forlì to Europe, from the United States to Africa.
