preview

Case Study: Steelton, Pennsylvania

Decent Essays

International Steel Group, Steelton, Pennsylvania The United States steel industry is currently facing an economic decline, due to an increase in foreign-produced steel imports. The cheap, foreign-subsidized imports are decreasing the demand for steel produced in America and, therefore, is causing American steel companies to financially struggle and lay off workers (Gibson & Smith, 2016). Similarly, the International Steel Group (ISG) Steelton, as stated in the case, is on a hiring freeze perhaps to reduce costs, due to financial concerns. The ISG Steelton steel plant hired six college students for the summer, perhaps to save on labor costs. According to the Department of Labor, exemptions under the Fair Labor Standards Act allow full-time students and workers under 20 to be paid less than the federal minimum wage (U.S. Department of Labor). Due to poor profitability, ISG Steelton is faced with challenge of completing tasks with limited resources and time. The six college students must load scrap metal covering an area the size of a football field by hand in two weeks, …show more content…

Before assigning teams, I would first examine the social interactions among the students and run a time trial to ensure the teams are fair. The teams would create competition and, therefore, increase productivity and efficiency. Work teams have also proven to improve speed and efficiency of completing tasks and job satisfaction (Williams, 2015). Additionally, I would create an assembly line system for the students to help reduce exhaustion and muscle fatigue. Assembly line methods are proven to increase productivity and efficiency, as well (Assembly). Before the teams began the project, I would train them, define the goal and task within a zone of indifference, and listen to their concerns, so they would feel comfortable and confident about the task at

Get Access