Andy Wadman, Author at FlexTrades

Our client faced a significant backlog due to a shortage of local talent, and that’s where FlexTrades came to the rescue. Within just three weeks, we deployed a team of skilled Assemblers, Welders, Fabricators, and Maintenance Technicians. The client’s management was not only satisfied but thrilled with our ability to swiftly provide them with the workforce they needed.

Our dedicated technicians went above and beyond, working diligently every weekend for months. Their tireless efforts paid off, as the backlog that had been causing concerns was completely cleared within just two months. This success story is a testament to our commitment to delivering exceptional solutions for our clients.

It’s no surprise that this client has now become one of our most substantial partners, consistently utilizing our talented workforce across multiple worksites nationwide.

For more inspiring success stories, don’t hesitate to explore our collection here.

Make Traveling More Like Home This Thanksgiving Holiday

Thanksgiving is a time for gathering together with the people near and dear to your heart. But if you’re traveling you may feel their absence even more so than usual. November 23^rd is right around the corner and, for those of you who are on the road and away from family, know there are still so many ways you can celebrate and feel the warmth of the holiday.

6 Alternative Ways to Celebrate Thanksgiving

For those like me who don’t cook that much – mostly because I don’t want to inflict my cooking on others – there are a number of restaurants open on Thanksgiving that have special Thanksgiving feast options available for one or more people.
In this age of ‘Dave, you’re on mute’ we are all familiar with facetiming or hopping on Zoom or Teams. If you have people in your life celebrating, but you won’t be able to make it, try attending virtually! You get all the warmth and connection of your loved ones without having to worry about your yearly cheek pinching from Great Aunt Gladys!
If you really want to go somewhere and be with people, but aren’t picky about who they are, please consider sites like Meetup and Eventbrite. I found numerous gatherings already scheduled for Thanksgiving 2023 that allow strangers to come together for everything from a home cooked meal to community craft fairs, to live music!
If you have the day off, it may be one of your few chances to have a chance to decompress and focus on yourself. With that in mind, you can bundle up with one or four blankets and watch Steve Martin struggle to make his way home for the holiday with John Candy in Planes, Trains, and Automobiles.
At the heart of the holiday is gratitude and giving thanks. What better way to do that than by taking the time to give back to those less fortunate? Volunteering opportunities are available everywhere and such organizations are always in need of help. Consider joining in with the community to help others celebrate during a time in their life where celebrations are rare.
I am of the opinion that running is not a hobby to partake in for fun. I have said on more than one occasion that if you see me running you should also be doing so because something is chasing me with the intent to do bodily harm. Nevertheless, for those who enjoy the dreaded activity, there’s always the Turkey Trot!

If you found this advice helpful, you’ll find more great tips on how to make a holiday away from home easier by reading Not Home for the Holidays too. And if you’d like to learn about more reasons to celebrate read our blog on Winter Holidays and Celebrations Around the World.

“It’s the most wonderful time of the year!”

No, we’re not talking about Christmas, although you might think so if you’ve ventured into Costco lately. It’s spooky season! Halloween kicks off on the 1st of October and lasts the entire month. With that in mind, let’s delve into the crème de la crème of Halloween movies for those of you who don’t start obsessing about them until July.

Disclaimer: I have zero tolerance for horror movies, so you’ll find that this list leans towards the PG side. I won’t be sacrificing my peaceful nights for the sake of journalism. Sorry, not sorry.

To kick things off, we have a somewhat controversial choice, “The Nightmare Before Christmas.” Some might argue that it’s a Christmas movie because the story builds up to Christmas Eve. However, I contend that since the majority of the film unfolds in Halloween Town and stars the Pumpkin King, it rightfully earns a place on this Halloween movie list. With its unforgettable musical numbers and exquisite stop-motion animation, this film is a must-see.

Speaking of Halloween Town, it’s not just a location; it’s also the setting of a beloved original Disney Channel film! “Halloweentown” is perfect for fans of the TV show “Grimm.” It’s one of the most light-hearted Halloween-themed movies I’ve ever seen, and it even boasts two sequels!

Next up is the one and only “horror” movie I can handle without experiencing weeks of sleepless, terrifying nights. “A Quiet Place” presents a unique take on what would happen if aliens invaded Earth. Stephen Hawking once likened it to Christopher Columbus arriving in the Americas, and the director of this film clearly agreed. Except in this case, Earth’s inhabitants face an alien race that ruthlessly hunts down anything or anyone that makes a sound.

Last but certainly not least, we have an iconic film celebrating its 30th Anniversary this year, “Hocus Pocus.” I had the pleasure of attending a screening on October 6th, and it was everything I remembered and more. Boasting a star-studded cast, an unbeatable script, and a timeless tale that encapsulates the spirit of the season, “Hocus Pocus” is, in my humble and entirely correct opinion, a Halloween classic! For those who adore this lovable film, there’s good news… “Hocus Pocus 2” is now available on Disney+!

If you enjoyed this blog, feel free to explore my post featuring an assortment of fantastic reads. There’s something on there for everyone!

One of our clients in the Plastic Packaging industry faced a substantial surge in demand, causing a significant backlog in their production. To address this challenge swiftly, we mobilized a skilled workforce consisting of technicians, a forklift operator, hot press operator, machine operator, maintenance technician, manufacturing technician, and packer.

These adept technicians played a pivotal role in rapidly enhancing our client’s production capacity. As a result of our successful intervention, we extended our support to multiple client locations across the United States, further reinforcing our commitment to boosting productivity and meeting their evolving needs.

Check out more success stories here!

FlexTrades collaborated with a manufacturer specializing in medical disposables used extensively in hospitals, encompassing a range of products such as IV kits, tubing, connectors, valves, and pumps. Our client faced a unique set of challenges, including a surge in demand driven by the pandemic, the retirement of highly skilled employees, and a localized talent scarcity resulting from economic uncertainty.

Operating within the confines of stringent FDA regulations, our client adhered to a comprehensive set of high-level injection molding practices, which included various aspects of RJG (RJG scientific molding, systematic molding, master molding, eDART). In a true partnership, FlexTrades stepped in, providing invaluable support with a team comprising 2 Mold Process Engineers, 1 Extrusion Engineer, 2 Mold Makers, and 1 Mold Process and Setup Technician. Remarkably, considering the scarcity of these specialized skills in the market, our client agreed to forgo the prerequisite for technicians and engineers to possess prior experience with RJG concepts.

As a consequence of this collaboration (in a particularly challenging market environment), FlexTrades efficiently addressed our client’s staffing requirements, deploying highly skilled technicians within a remarkable timeframe of 27 days. Subsequent feedback from our client regarding the technicians was overwhelmingly positive, with comments such as, “It was a pleasure having them here. They were exceptional collaborators who possessed deep knowledge of injection molding. Their presence will be sincerely missed.”

Click here to learn more about our skilled workforce.

It’s September, folks. You know what that means? Yes, it means your kids are finally going back to school, but it is also National Pet Insurance month! You may be shocked that pet insurance is prevalent enough to warrant its own month of celebration. According to a recent article in Forbes, there are over eighty million dogs and over sixty million cats in the United States.

Most companies offer health insurance to their full-time workforce and extend that benefit to significant others and even children. But what about four-legged children and their bills? The more prominent costs, at least for me, include fun toys and tasty treats because my pets are incredibly spoiled. However, the concern that loomed above all others was the pawsibility of one of my fur babies falling victim to serious illness or injury. When my bichon-poo mix Gipsy Danger wasn’t eating and lethargic with a serious cough at 3 months old, it cost over $500 at the emergency veterinary clinic to diagnose and treat her kennel cough. I was, of course, relieved to be able to get her the care she needed, but that bill still stung quite a bit. Had she been insured with Nationwide Pet Insurance at that time, 70% of her total bill would have been reimbursed to me. They even have direct deposit!

Now, my two cats and pupper are all covered under Nationwide Pet Insurance. Coverage includes a portion of everything from routine visits and vaccines to emergencies. It may be a bit pricier than some of their competitors, but the comprehensive coverage more than makes up for it. Not to mention the easy-to-use app that allows you to access benefits and submit claims within minutes. And did I mention they have direct deposit?!

A recent study done by Pew Research identified that a staggering 97% of pet owners consider their animals as members of the family – rightly so – with 51% ranking their furry family on the same level as their human ones. If that’s true, it only makes sense to insure your four legged family as much as your two legged ones.

Deploying Niche Skillsets

Our client was located in the land of Oil & Gas. Their remote location combined with a lot of competition in the market, made it extremely difficult for their team to find highly skilled Plastics Process Technicians. Their HR team had been searching for two process technicians for over a year before coming to FlexTrades for support. Within weeks, we were able to provide them with several skilled Technician from our bench who fit the skillsets and experience they were seeking. Our technicians will be supporting them for 6+ months to give the internal hiring team the space and time to find the right permanent solution in their area. The VP of Operations at the facility recently shared that our Technicians are “setting the bar for performance in this position”.

We’ve all heard the joke regarding the Fitbit app where it’s like a Tamagotchi but the creature you’re trying to keep alive is yourself. In that same vein, I bring to you list of free self-care apps that are designed to help you thrive and live your best life in as fun and engaging a way as possible.

Finch

I downloaded Finch because I was going through a rough period and needed to focus on something else. I created an account and my finch, Ophelia, was born. As you complete and log various tasks like housework or self-care, you earn Rainbow Stones. These, in turn, can be used to purchase clothing for your finch to wear or furniture to decorate their home. Once you’ve fully evolved into an adult you can even travel outside of Finchie Forest to destinations like Bali, Paris, or Maui. Not to mention the adorable pets your finch is able to obtain. There is both a free and paid version of this app and, while I have the paid version, the free iteration of Finch is a full experience. Overall, this app was able to bring a semblance of order and routine to my work-from-home lifestyle while constantly bringing a smile to my face.

Lumosity

The process to create an account in Lumosity is simple, and the games they present you with to assess the areas of your mind you wish to exercise are straightforward. Some of the games were even challenging to the point that I started to get frustrated. This probably means it’s an app I need to keep on my phone!

Colorfy

If you’re on the road, you may be traveling light and not have room for coloring books or pencils. Thankfully, now you don’t have to. Introducing Colorfy, the app designed with you in mind. That is, if you’re the kind of person who finds coloring relaxing. I personally do not, but even I had to admit this app was helping me decompress. There’s a membership option for a fee but the free version was perfectly entertaining on its own.

Goblin Tools

This last one is, to the neurotypical passerby, quite bizarrely named. However, for my fellow ADHD warriors, you know all too well that we are all a bit of a goblin at times. Goblin Tools is an app that I purchased for a onetime fee of $0.99. However, after playing around with it, I would have happily paid ten times that. It takes any task you may be struggling to accomplish and breaks into tasks based on how much ADHD paralysis you are dealing with at the moment with a simple sliding scale. I will never be without this app on my phone and, should it ever be discontinued, I will surely perish.

Providing the Talent Needed for Production Success

We have been partnering with this facility for the past four years by deploying our food experienced Machine Operators, Material Handlers and Sanitation Technicians to their site located in a rural area where finding workers with these skill sets is challenging. Our client shared that they would not have been able to consistently meet production goals without the support of FlexTrades’ Technicians.

Project Completed Ahead of Schedule with FlexTrades Tenured Technicians

We recently deployed 10 of our Welders to an energy manufacturing facility to address a backlog caused by an increase in demand for their product and not enough skilled workers locally to address that demand. This client found that FlexTrades’ Technicians ramped up quickly and actually ended up outperforming the welds of their full-time workforce. FlexTrades’ Technicians were so productive that they extended the project beyond the original plans, allowing them to not only catch up on backlog, but also to build inventory.

Author: Andy Wadman

Make Traveling More Like Home This Thanksgiving Holiday

6 Alternative Ways to Celebrate Thanksgiving

Deploying Niche Skillsets

Finch

Lumosity

Colorfy

Goblin Tools

Providing the Talent Needed for Production Success

Project Completed Ahead of Schedule with FlexTrades Tenured Technicians

Home

About FlexTrades

Success Stories

Contact FlexTrades

Privacy Policy

Innovative Solutions

Key Differentiators

ReTool

Manufacturing Production

Engineering Services

FAQs

Careers

Browse All Jobs

Join the FlexTrades Team

Veteran Hiring Commitment

Training Reimbursement

Hiring Process

ReTool

Benefit Information

Contact a Recruiter

Contact Business Development

Blog

FlexTrades Culture

Career Development

Manufacturing History

How It’s Made

Health & Wellness

Follow us