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Finding a Captive Work Force
IMR, Sept. 16, 1996
Looking for alternative sources of labor for large fulfillment projects? FMC Resource Management Co., based in Monroe, Wash., uses inmates from a maximum security prison less than one mile from its office. The state prison operates a company called Exmark that handles large fulfillment projects. FMC uses Exmark primarily for rush orders and large jobs that it is unable to handle in-house. Exmark charges per piece, and rates on large jobs are more economical than using any other labor pool, including FMC's own employees, says CEO Mark Trumper, a member of DMIA's Board of Directors. An Exmark representative meets with FMC officials to review each job. A fleet of about six trucks picks up inventory and delivers finished goods to FMC. Trumper says Exmark does an excellent job; FMC has never had a problem with quality, even on sophisticated jobs. The prison has a large and growing population of inmates, says Trumper, allowing it to handle tight deadlines.