Kimberly-Clark: Modernizing Factory Training and Retention with Poka
Kimberly-Clark, a global leader in personal care and hygiene products, is renowned for its innovative brands like Kleenex®, Scott® and Huggies®. Operating in 66 countries with over 46,000 employees, the company sought a way to modernize training and improve workforce engagement to address challenges such as high turnover and a growing skills gap.
In 2021, Kimberly-Clark embarked on a digital transformation journey to enhance workforce training using Poka’s connected worker platform. With 10 sites across North America adopting the solution, the company has achieved remarkable results, including a 90% faster access to procedures, a 14% reduction in employee turnover and a 90% better training experience as measured by employee feedback.
Kimberly-Clark’s success with Poka
Faster Access to Work Instructions
Reduction in Employee Turnover
Better Training Experience
Modernizing Outdated Training Processes
As a company with a rich history of operational excellence, Kimberly-Clark faced growing pains in adapting its training and workforce management systems to the demands of a modern, connected manufacturing environment. Traditionally, the company relied on paper-based training documents, standalone checklists and inconsistent onboarding practices across sites.
These outdated methods were inefficient and frustrating for new hires and existing employees alike. Bailey Payne, Training Leader at the Huntsville facility in Canada, described the challenges: “Our training system was confusing and manual. Training documents were often out of date or hard to find, leading to inconsistent learning experiences and frustration among employees.”
Additionally, Kimberly-Clark experienced high turnover rates, with many experienced operators retiring and a significant portion of the workforce needing upskilling. The impact was particularly evident during the pandemic, when the company turned over more than 50% of its staff in three years.
“Our employee survey scores reflected dissatisfaction around engagement and training,” Payne noted. “We knew we needed a system that could streamline processes, improve knowledge retention and ultimately enhance the overall training experience.”
A Digital Transformation with Poka
Kimberly-Clark identified Poka as the ideal platform to address its training and workforce challenges. Poka’s connected worker platform was implemented across 10 sites in North America, starting with a proof of concept in 2021 and scaling to full deployment by 2024.
The implementation focused on three key areas:
Kimberly-Clark digitized its training materials and work instructions, making them accessible in real time via iPads on the production floor. This allowed employees to quickly locate and review standard operating procedures directly at their workstations.
By integrating multimedia elements like videos and images into training modules, Poka transformed how employees learned new skills. Training materials were designed to match modern learning preferences, enabling more effective and engaging experiences.
Poka facilitated better communication and collaboration among employees. Operators could share knowledge, post issues and receive timely responses, fostering a sense of inclusion and ownership.
Tangible Improvements in Efficiency and Engagement
The implementation of Poka yielded impressive results, demonstrating its impact on Kimberly-Clark’s operations and workforce:
90% Faster Access to Work Instructions
Employees could instantly access up-to-date digital work instructions on the floor, significantly reducing the time spent searching for information. This streamlined approach ensured tasks were performed safely, efficiently and to standard.
14% Reduction in Employee Turnover
By simplifying training and enhancing the overall employee experience, Kimberly-Clark improved retention rates. Employees felt more confident and valued in their roles, contributing to a more stable and motivated workforce.
90% Better Training Experience
Employee feedback highlighted significant improvements in training quality and effectiveness. With multimedia resources and structured processes, trainees found it easier to grasp concepts and apply them on the job.
Poka has simplified training and connected learning directly to work. It’s not just about training faster; it’s about training better. Employees now feel more confident and engaged in their roles.
Bailey Payne
Training Lead, Kimberly-Clark
From Proof of Concept to Full Deployment
Kimberly-Clark’s success with Poka can be attributed to a well-executed rollout plan:
1. Proof of Concept
In 2021, the company piloted Poka at select sites to evaluate its potential and alignment with Kimberly-Clark’s goals. These initial implementations provided valuable insights and helped refine the deployment strategy.
2. Scaling Across North America
By 2023, Poka was launched at five additional sites, with all 10 sites in North America fully operational on the platform by 2024. Each site tailored its implementation to address local needs while adhering to a standardized framework.
3. Sustaining and Expanding Use Cases
Kimberly-Clark established a community of practice to share learnings across sites and continuously improve the system’s effectiveness. Monthly meetings allowed teams to identify new use cases, ensuring the platform evolved alongside the company’s needs.
Empowering Employees Through Digital Tools
Beyond the quantitative results, Poka enabled a significant cultural shift within Kimberly-Clark. The platform transformed training from a compliance-driven task into a dynamic, employee-centered process.
“Poka has simplified training and connected learning directly to work,” Bailey Payne explained. “It’s not just about training faster; it’s about training better. Employees now feel more confident and engaged in their roles.”
The platform also empowered operators to take ownership of their knowledge and skills. With real-time access to procedures and troubleshooting guides, employees could solve problems independently and contribute to continuous improvement efforts.
Kimberly-Clark’s journey with Poka offers valuable lessons for manufacturers looking to enhance training and workforce engagement
Providing real-time access to procedures and training materials ensures employees have the information they need to perform their tasks efficiently and safely.
Integrating multimedia resources into training modules aligns with modern learning preferences, making it easier for employees to absorb and retain information.
Tools that facilitate communication and collaboration empower employees to take ownership of their learning and contribute to organizational goals.
Ready to Transform Your Workforce?
Kimberly-Clark’s success with Poka demonstrates the transformative power of a connected worker platform to improve training, retention, and employee satisfaction.
Contact our team today to learn how Poka can help your organization achieve similar results.