MADISON – Governor Jim Doyle today presented four Workforce Advancement Training Grants totaling $389,985 to Madison Area Technical College (MATC) to train highly skilled manufacturers in Madison.
“I believe that the states that will be doing well 5, 10 and 20 years down the road are those that have the most flexible workforce – trained and ready for the jobs of the future,” Governor Doyle said. “Through the strong partnership with MATC and technical colleges across the state, we are continuing to arm Wisconsin workers with the skills they need to succeed in the competitive global economy.”
The projects allow MATC to build the Madison area’s local manufacturing workforce by providing critical training to update worker skills, improve quality and productivity, boost communication and performance, and provide resources for career advancement. In total, more than 700 workers will be trained at 21 area companies. Training will occur at multiple MATC locations between August 2008 and July 2009.
The grants are as follows:
·Certifying and Upgrading Workers Skills to Meet Manufacturing Skill Standards ($89,112) – This project will partner MATC with seven manufacturing companies who are members of the South Central Industry Partnership to certify and upgrade 125 workers’ skills through Manufacturing Skills Standards Council (MSSC) training and certification. Additionally, this project will increase employees’ career advancement opportunities while also supporting each company’s profitability and long-term viability. By offering MSSC, companies reinforce the value of national industry skill standards and directly improve workers’ skills through simulations and knowledge assessments setting the employer ahead when competing in a global marketplace. The participating companies include: Plastic Ingenuity, Saelens, SICO America, Spacesaver, Webcrafters, Cardinal Glass, and Teel Plastics.
·Quality and Productivity Manufacturing Consortium ($70,793) – This grant will partner MATC with nine manufacturing companies to upgrade 175 workers’ skills. Knowledge and skills will be developed in a variety of quality and productivity concepts, methodologies, and practices. Specifically, 430 hours of Lean, Six Sigma, Quality Basics, and Project Management training will be provided. Training will enhance worker and workplace consistency while reducing rework and increasing productivity. This project will improve employees’ career advancement opportunities while supporting each company’s profitability and long-term viability; essential requirements for competing in today’s global marketplace. The participating companies include: McCain Foods USA, Multi-Color Corporation, Placon, Saint-Gobain, Spring Windows, Sussek Machine, and Teel Plastics.
·Leadership: Communication, Teamwork & Performance Management Support Productivity ($114,060) – This project will enable Madison Area Technical College to provide 824 hours of Leadership Development training to up to 318 workers from fifteen companies located in four counties. Participants will gain skills to improve their competence in communication, leadership, teamwork, and performance management. This project directly addresses the skill gaps described by manufacturers to remain competitive in a challenging market. Companies will experience improved productivity, efficiencies, work culture, and increased adaptability in the changing advanced manufacturing industry. The participating companies include some of the companies mentioned above, and: Penda Corporation, Research Products Corporation, Thermo Fisher Scientific, and Wick Building Systems.
·Continuous Improvement Consortium (Small Business WATG) ($116,020) – This grant partners Madison Area Technical College with six small businesses to upgrade 90 workers’ skills. Continuous improvement initiatives will be impacted through quality and productivity concepts & practices, leadership & communication skills and use of technology applications. Lean Manufacturing, Six Sigma, Quality, Project Management, Supervision, Teamwork, Communication and Information Technology training will be provided. Training will develop workers’ efficiency and consistency while reducing rework and increasing productivity. Employees’ career advancement opportunities will improve while supporting each company’s profitability and long-term viability. The participating companies include: Portage Plastics, Saelens, Sani-Matic, SICO America, Thermal Spray Technologies, and Visicom.
Governor Doyle created the Workforce Advancement Training (WAT) Grant program in the 2005-2007 budget, and it has provided training to nearly 30,000 incumbent workers employed at several hundred businesses in Wisconsin. The program has improved employee skills, while creating a better working environment, cost savings, and lower job turnover rates for Wisconsin businesses.
-30-
