A Company Built to Be Different

Lincoln Premium Poultry was always determined to be different from other poultry processing plants. Unlike traditional facilities plagued by outdated systems and limited transparency, LPP envisioned a modern, data-driven environment that prioritized employee well-being, operational efficiency, and product quality.

Despite having a clear vision, LPP (and the poultry industry at large) still struggled with high turnover and recruitment as many job seekers held misconceptions about working conditions in poultry facilities.

Photo: Derrick Threatt

It became clear that the challenges impacting their operational efficiency, workforce retention, and decision-making capabilities were due to LPPs reliance on paper-based systems and spreadsheets. They simply needed better visibility into key process and performance data.

LPP began to search for a digital solution to help drive informed decision-making based on real-time data, and would help foster a culture of continuous improvement.

The Digital Shift

LPP’s leadership team understood that real change required more than just new policies and processes - it required a shift in how organizational-wide data was collected, analyzed, and used to inform decisions. Starting with its Quality Assurance (QA) department, LPP began digitizing record-keeping processes using SafetyChain’s Digital Plant Management Platform. 

It didn’t take long before they were accessing real-time data through SafetyChain to see where they could improve food safety, quality, and overall efficiency. Encouraged by these early successes, LPP expanded the SafetyChain platform beyond the QA department into production, maintenance, safety, and live operations at the feed mill and hatchery.

Photo: Derrick Threatt

Today, LPP can automatically collect and track a wide range of data, including:

• Quality & Food Safety: Antibiotic usage, animal welfare audits, product grading, microbial testing, HACCP checks, and USDA audits.
• Operations: Yield, efficiency, machine effectiveness, and startup task checklists.
• Safety & Compliance: Safety observations, pre-op sanitation checks, and OSHA compliance records.
• Maintenance: Downtime tracking, preventive maintenance schedules, and work order management.

Putting People First with Data-Driven Programs

Leaders at LPP have always maintained that their people are the company’s greatest asset, and are committed to treating them as such. By integrating digital tools into training and development programs, they sought to leverage the platform to power the following programs and give their people a voice.

Touchpoint Program: Empowering New Hires

To reduce turnover and ensure a smooth onboarding process, LPP implemented the Touchpoint Program, a structured check-in system for new hires. This program includes questions on safety, job responsibilities, and employee well-being.

Example questions include:

• Do you feel safe in your job?
• Do you have the necessary tools and PPE to perform your duties?
• Do you know who your department manager is?
• Is there anything outside of work we can help you with?

Originally, the Touchpoint Program was implemented via paper and spreadsheets. Now digitized with SafetyChain, HR and training teams receive real-time notifications about employee concerns, giving them the ability to proactively take action.

Photo: Derrick Threatt

Job Hardening Program: Setting Employees Up for Success

While the Touchpoint Program focuses on creating a supportive culture for new hires, the Job Hardening Program helps new employees ramp up, adjust, and acclimate to their job tasks and work environment. Further, it allows supervisors to get to know their new employees and provide personalized coaching and support.

Safety Observation Program: Collaborating on Workplace Safety

LPP’s commitment to employee well-being extends beyond onboarding. Through the Safety Observation Program, frontline workers and supervisors are encouraged to collaborate on risk assessments to identify and address potential hazards before they lead to incidents.

All checks are recorded in SafetyChain, and appropriate teams are alerted on any areas that need attention via notifications. This allows them to recognize and resolve findings in real time, and has created open communication among team members and management.

The Impact of LPP’s Plant-Wide Digitization

The people at LPP know that true digitization isn’t just about collecting data, but using it to increase transparency, communication, and collaboration. Here are just some of the most noteworthy benefits LPP has seen so far:

1. Reduced Turnover & Improved Employee Satisfaction

Fostering a transparent and supportive work environment through digitized workforce programs has enabled LPP to lower its turnover rate to 37% (compared to the poultry industry average of 104%), while increasing their new hire retention rate by 30%. By allowing better communication with their workforce, they’ve seen a decrease in “break-in pain” reports by 60%.

2. Increased Operational Efficiency & Cost Savings

The decision to digitize paper-based processes across multiple departments has allowed LPP to start addressing costly inefficiencies. Some examples include:

• $230,000 in monthly savings by optimizing just one of their maintenance processes
• Drove yield loss down from 24% to 6%
• Faster issue resolution and 38% reduced downtime

3. A Data-Driven Culture of Quality, Safety, and Continuous Improvement

With SafetyChain at their fingertips, employees at all levels now have access to real-time data and insights, enabling them to:

• Identify and resolve issues proactively
• Accelerate audit preparation 
• Contribute to operational improvements
• Support customer confidence in their approach to food safety
• Take ownership of performance metrics

A Blueprint for the Future of Poultry Processing

Lincoln Premium Poultry’s commitment to building a culture of continuous improvement has set them apart as an industry leader with numerous awards for performance, safety, and innovation. 

With the help of SafetyChain’s Digital Plant Management Platform, they now have a clear view of their current production performance, can automate any program - from employee satisfaction to food safety, and can analyze trends to help drive efficiencies. For poultry companies looking to remove the risks and costs associated with paper-based processes, LPP’s digitization story serves as a blueprint for success.

Video: Take a look inside Lincoln Premium Poultry to see their digitized programs in action.