Hi Nani,
Usually in manufacturing industry, educational qualification is not considered.
Most of the people you'd notice would be at a designation because of their experience or talent.
Secondly, as an HR personnel, it would be your role to change the current scenario. By that I do not mean to say that replace the manpower with better qualified people. I mean to say is to train them on basic office etiquette or as suggested go for team building exercise.
Honestly, change is something that is retaliated always. You and me too would perhaps retaliate if we have to change in some or other respect which we do not find comfortable.
They might be not comfortable with the HR department or may be with you for the reasons -
1. Now the processes would be tracked
2. You being in the HR department, it becomes difficult for them to speak or have fun. (Assuming manufacturing units usually have males staff, it becomes a little uncomfortable for them to have their usual life in presence of a female personnel. Saying so as it was experienced by in my current employment.)
3. More so you are a new person, they might not know you,your intention etc. HR has always been in the hate list for employees for many reasons, and it is our duty to let them know that not all are same.
4. Again another problem could be - reporting to a junior person. Most of the person in your firm would be experience as well as age wise higher to you. It becomes a matter of ego and self respect to go to a junior for advice or sharing a concern etc.
I would suggest you to do following -
1. Since you've only recently joined, try to figure out what and how the people are working.
2. Report every action and take minutes on record, but do not report immediately.
3. Wait for atleast one month and continuously check the behavior on a day-to-day basis.
4. Even after 1 month if you find there is not much change, try to figure out what are the changes that are to be brought.
5. List down a few engagement, motivational and team building activities that you can do in your firm before you discuss the issue with any one. (Do not forget to keep a track on the daily behavior of the people in the said time)
6. One you have a list of daily behavior and a list of activities you plan to do (with their pros and cons) you can ask your Head for appointment to meet personally.
7. Discuss the problem and share the concern and suggest the schemes you have chalked out.
8. Convince how would your scheme benefit the firm,
Gone are the days when a junior reports the senior about a problem.
Now we are expected to also give a scheme/plan to solve the problem that we are to report.
And above all, it will also give you a learning experience on how to tackle such issue.
It would also look good on your part that you are not a baby to cry and complain of all the small problem and trouble coming your way, but you are ready to tackle them and learn from them.
All the best. :-)