Executive Summary

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First Brands Group, a global leader in automotive parts manufacturing with over 20 prestigious brands including FRAM, Autolite, and TRICO, partnered with Ribbon.ai to revolutionize their technical hiring process. By implementing Ribbon.ai's AI Interviewer, First Brands Group successfully unified their hiring approach across multiple brands while maintaining brand-specific technical standards.

Key Results

• 65% reduction in time-to-hire for technical positions
• 800+ engineering candidates evaluated across brands
• 90% hiring manager satisfaction rate
• 45% decrease in recruitment costs
• 3x improvement in technical skill matching accuracy

Challenge

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First Brands Group faced several complex hiring challenges:

• Need to assess specialized technical knowledge across diverse product lines
• Inconsistent evaluation standards between different brands
• High volume of applications for engineering and technical positions
• Complex requirements varying by product category (filters, brakes, wipers, etc.)
• Geographic distribution of hiring needs across multiple manufacturing facilities
• Need to maintain brand-specific expertise while leveraging group synergies

Solution

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Ribbon.ai implemented a customized AI interviewing solution featuring:

• Industry-specific technical assessment modules
• Brand-specific knowledge evaluation
• Automotive engineering competency verification
• Manufacturing process expertise assessment
• Multi-location hiring coordination
• Standardized technical evaluation framework

Results in Detail

Technical Excellence

The implementation of Ribbon.ai's AI Interviewer dramatically transformed First Brands Group's ability to identify and assess technical talent. For specialized roles like brake systems engineers at Raybestos or filtration specialists at FRAM, the platform's custom assessment modules increased successful placement rates by 40%. The AI Interviewer's ability to evaluate both theoretical knowledge and practical experience proved particularly valuable when assessing candidates for Autolite's spark plug manufacturing team, where technical precision is crucial.

The system's brand-specific knowledge assessment capabilities helped identify candidates who not only possessed broad automotive expertise but also demonstrated deep understanding of particular product categories. For instance, when hiring for TRICO's wiper systems division, the AI Interviewer effectively evaluated candidates' understanding of aerodynamics and materials science specific to wiper blade technology, resulting in a 35% improvement in technical team performance metrics.

Operational Efficiency

Prior to implementing Ribbon.ai, First Brands Group's decentralized hiring process often led to redundant recruitment efforts across brands. The new system introduced a unified technical assessment framework while maintaining brand-specific requirements, reducing duplicate hiring activities by 60%. This streamlined approach proved particularly valuable when simultaneously staffing multiple manufacturing facilities, such as during the recent expansion of Carter's fuel pump production facilities.

The standardized yet flexible assessment process also enhanced talent mobility across the organization. Engineers who initially interviewed for positions at Centric Parts could be easily considered for relevant openings at other brands like Raybestos, creating a more dynamic internal talent marketplace. This cross-brand mobility program, enabled by comprehensive AI-driven skill assessments, resulted in a 45% increase in internal promotions and transfers.

The platform's ability to coordinate hiring across multiple locations proved especially valuable for multi-site projects. When launching new product lines requiring coordination between R&D teams in different regions, the AI Interviewer's standardized technical evaluation framework ensured consistent quality in technical hires across all locations while reducing time-to-hire by an average of 12 days.

Implementation Impact
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The integration of Ribbon.ai's AI Interviewer transformed First Brands Group's hiring by:

• Creating consistent technical evaluation standards
• Enabling efficient multi-brand hiring coordination
• Reducing time spent on initial technical screening
• Improving quality of technical hires
• Supporting growth across all brands

Future Plans
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First Brands Group is expanding their use of Ribbon.ai's platform to include:

• Advanced mechanical engineering assessment modules
• Integration with skills tracking systems
• Enhanced evaluation of manufacturing expertise
• Expanded technical competency frameworks
• Cross-brand talent development pathways

Voice from First Brands Group
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"Ribbon.ai has revolutionized how we assess technical talent across our family of brands. The AI Interviewer's ability to evaluate both general engineering principles and brand-specific technical knowledge has been invaluable in building stronger technical teams across our organization."
- Director, Talent Acquisition @First Brands Group

About First Brands Group
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First Brands Group is a global leader in automotive parts manufacturing, owning and operating renowned brands such as FRAM, Autolite, TRICO, and Raybestos. With manufacturing facilities across multiple continents and a legacy spanning over 100 years through its various brands, First Brands Group continues to lead innovation in automotive parts and technologies.

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