Since the start-up of our extrusion and thermoforming operations at Direct Pack Baja in Mexicali, Mexico, in 2021, more shifts have been added and the number of employees has been increasing exponentially. In order to support our team members and the community in which we operate, as well as securing efficiency in operations, we have implemented a transportation program which provides reliable transportation to all team members to and from our facility. As an added benefit, the program also reduces greenhouse gas emissions from team members commuting to work.
We have partnered with a local company that provides us with vehicles and drivers, and offers transportation for three different shifts: morning, afternoon, and evening. Each shift has two buses going different routes throughout the city to pick up and drop off the team members from central locations near their homes. Prior to this new service, team members relied on public transportation or ride shares to get to work, and often missed shifts due to the lack of access to reliable transportation. This negatively impacted the plant efficiency and also led to high turnover rates.
Our new program is designed for all Direct Pack Baja team members in need of reliable transportation and is also intended as a safe alternative for those who work night shifts. Our initiative has been very successful and helped improve team member morale and retention rate, reducing absenteeism and increasing manufacturing output.
Alejandro Mendez, Direct Pack Baja Plant Manager, explains: “Since the transportation program was implemented, the transition between the shifts has gotten smoother as all team members arrive 20 minutes early. As a result, we have been able to improve our manufacturing operations by having more workers available at the beginning of the shift.”
According to HR Manager Diane Valdez, we currently have 68 team members using the transportation program and are expecting more to join. By replacing 68 cars with 6 bus routes, we have reduced the mileage driven every week by over 90% from approximately 8,000 miles to 500 miles per week.
We are very pleased that this initiative allows us to contribute to the convenience and safety of our employees, as well as to the environment by reducing greenhouse gas emissions from cars circulating in these communities.