As ag-industrial facilities face mounting pressure to maintain uptime, scale capacity, and comply with safety regulations, one quiet shift is transforming how the work gets done: the rise of embedded contractors.

At KPIC Maintenance Services, a division of FWS, staffing solutions now account for nearly half of all business activity. And for good reason. Across grain terminals, processing plants, and ag-industrial hubs in both Canada and the U.S., facility operators are facing a shared reality: skilled labour is getting harder to find, harder to retain, and more expensive to train.

"We’re no longer just a maintenance company. We’re a workforce solution," says Ken Morrison, Director of Operations at KPIC. "More clients are embedding our millwrights directly into their daily operations—sometimes for a shutdown, sometimes for an entire year."

The Labour Gap Is Real

The Canadian Agricultural Human Resource Council (CAHRC) projects a shortfall of over 100,000 workers in Canada’s agri-food supply chain by 2030, with a significant share in trades and industrial maintenance roles. In the U.S., the Bureau of Labor Statistics lists millwrights among the skilled trades with above-average demand growth, citing aging infrastructure and increased industrial automation as key drivers.

What does that mean for facility operators? It means fewer resumes, longer job vacancies, higher training costs, and more strain on existing crews.

Embedded Contractors: A Strategic Safety Valve

Rather than scramble for full-time hires or risk burnout among in-house teams, many operators are now leveraging embedded contractors—especially millwrights—to supplement their workforce.

Unlike traditional temp staffing or short-term shutdown crews, embedded KPIC contractors:

• Operate under the client’s site protocols and reporting structure

• Bring deep experience in mechanical maintenance and safety-first execution

• Provide continuity through longer-term placement and team integration

• Can rapidly scale up or down depending on seasonal or capital project needs

"Our millwrights are often the bridge between existing teams and the demands of a high-output facility," Morrison explains. "They don’t just fix equipment—they bring stability, mentorship, and bandwidth."

When Does It Make Sense to Embed?

KPIC clients embed contractors for a range of scenarios:

• Post-project commissioning support

• Backfilling for retirements or leave of absence

• Executing PM plans without disrupting in-house workflow

• Providing local support for remote facilities

• Adding mechanical capacity during peak harvest or railcar loading season

More Than Wrenches: Soft Skills Matter

One of the less talked about advantages of KPIC’s embedded teams is the cultural fit. Contractors are selected not just for technical skills but for adaptability, communication, and professionalism.

"We’re not just dropping someone into your site. We’re sending in people who understand how to represent your brand, work with your team, and keep projects moving," says Morrison.

Future-Proofing the Workforce

With skilled trades education lagging behind industry growth and many experienced technicians approaching retirement, embedded contracting is no longer a stopgap—it’s a strategic operating model.

"Flexible labour is going to be a permanent part of how industrial sites run," says Morrison. "We’re helping clients get ahead of that curve—safely, reliably, and with the right people in place."

About KPIC Maintenance Services
KPIC is a specialized division of FWS Group focused on equipment upgrades, facility staffing, and long-term maintenance solutions for ag-industrial clients across North America. Their embedded millwright teams support mission-critical infrastructure with skill, safety, and precision.

Sources:

• Canadian Agricultural Human Resource Council. "Agriculture 2030: Workforce Outlook." 2023.

• U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. "Occupational Outlook Handbook: Millwrights." 2023.

• Interview with Ken Morrison, KPIC / FWS Group, 2024.

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