Case Study: Selection at First Apparel Silas Mill was once known as the producer of the finest linen fabric in the world. The company, headquartered in Macon, Georgia, has had a long history of invention and innovation. That culture served the company well as the textile industry moved to China. Instead of trying to hold onto its competitive advantage in the linen industry, Silas Mill found new products to manufacture. Now, it produces a wide range of high performance fabrics used in industrial and commercial settings. The company has recently used nanotechnology to develop stainresistant fabrics that are increasingly popular in skilled nursing facilities and hospitals because of their durability and ease of care. The company has grown from 150 employees working at one plant in Macon to 700 employees working in three plants in the United States and one in China. Some of the corporate jobs at Silas Mill are marketing analyst, executive assistant, designer, sales representative, customer service specialist, purchasing manager, attorney, research scientist, and accountant. The company values integrity, relationships, innovation, and change. Its mission statement emphasizes the importance of putting the customer and employee first: At Silas Mill, we strive to be the numberone provider of highquality, highperformance designer fabrics and the numberone employer in our industry. We believe in always putting the customer first, valuing our employees, and maintaining the highest ethical standards. As Silas Mill has grown and continued to be a leader in textile innovation, it has also grown its reputation as a preferred employer. The downside is that the HR staff find it increasingly difficult to wade through all the applications to ensure they have the most qualified employees for their jobs. The current selection process is pretty standard across jobs: HR staff manually review the applications and resumes that come in, identify a short list of applicants for a particular job, and then invite the individuals on the short list in for an interview with the hiring manager and some of their co workers.
After reading; answer the questions below.
1. How might Silas Mill use technology to make its selection process more effective and efficient?
2. Research ways in which companies take culture into consideration in selection and make a recommendation for Silas Mill.
3. As Silas Mill continues to grow its business, what are some other changes that need to occur in the selection process?
4. What advice would you give the HR staff at Silas Mill to ensure they have the most effective selection process possible?