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Employers - Skills
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SKILLS TRAINING SOLUTIONS:
BIOMEDICAL INDUSTRY
As the biomedical industry continues to
see rapid growth within the South Plains region, industry
employers have expressed concerns regarding the lack of
skilled Lean Manufacturing workers. Workforce Solutions
South Plains responded by joining forces with Osteogenics
Biomedical, Inc., a major medical device manufacturing
company in Lubbock, to train employees in Lean Manufacturing
and Value Stream mapping principles.
Lean Manufacturing, a process management
philosophy that eliminates inefficient actions, delays and
barriers within the production process, equips employees
with tools necessary to evaluate the production process, its
physical layout, inputs, and many other variables involved.
Value Stream Mapping is a tool used in the Lean philosophy
and helps employees ‘break down’ a production system into
its most basic components. From there, employees may add,
remove or change the order of these components to create a
more efficient process.
Workforce Solutions South Plains funded
the training and instruction was provided by West Texas
Manufacturing Assistance Center (WTMAC). The curriculum was
designed around the Six Sigma business philosophy which
focuses on improved quality, productivity and increased
profits.
The training has resulted in employee’s
receiving increased skill levels while being prepared for
greater responsibilities, higher wages and extended
industry-wide career opportunities. Osteogenics Biomedical
benefited from a stronger global competitive advantage and
increased overall efficiency.
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“Lean
Manufacturing is the most effective tools that leading U.S.
manufacturing companies are adopting for improved efficiency.
The biomedical industry’s success is dependant upon the
knowledge base of its employees, and the employees who complete
this training course are the driving force behind
revolutionizing our production systems here in the South
Plains,” stated Osteogenics Biomedical president Shane
Shuttlesworth. |
With the
recent attraction of several large manufacturers to the
area, who with them bring over 300 new manufacturing jobs,
the Lubbock
MSA continues to experience significant growth. Recent
employers’ concerns with the lack of qualified HVAC and General
Maintenance Technicians prompted Workforce Solutions to
develop immediate solutions to meet these demands.
WFS
worked with South Plains College to provide a short-term
training course that will ultimately prepare a pool of
skilled workers in the
areas of building maintenance and heating and air
conditioning mechanics. During the initial discussion phase,
additional concerns
were noted regarding the number of individuals in the region
currently unemployed or underemployed, who receive welfare
subsidies, and who lack the skills necessary to gain
employment at self-sufficiency wages.
In
partnership with WFS, Bruce Thornton Heating & Air
Conditioning, Stellar Property Management and Armstrong
Mechanical, SPC
customized a training curriculum that will prepare
individuals with the basic skills needed to be successful in
the fields of HVAC and
building maintenance. Additional curriculum components were
incorporated to help the individuals with work-readiness
training
and financial education. The project was awarded a $90,720
self-sufficiency grant from the Texas Workforce Commission
as a
result of its innovative, employer-driven design. Presently,
there is a not a certification or industry-recognized
curriculum in Texas
used to train individuals entering this field. The
curriculum will allow SPC to continue the program after the
grant ends in February
2009.
"The
value of this program is that employers have taken part in
developing the curriculum that will help produce a labor
pool of
qualified, well-trained employees," said Martin Aguirre, CEO
of Workforce Solutions.
Following successful classroom completion, participants are
guaranteed employment with one of the three partnering
employers. These
employers have agreed to hire the less qualified workers who
are on a career path to becoming experienced HVAC
Technicians, pay them a self-sufficiency wage and continue
to develop their skills through on-the-job training.
Participants must meet
self-sufficiency standards and income level requirement to
be selected. Upon completion of the training, incumbent
workers will
receive pay increases and achieve a higher level of
employment with one of the three partner businesses. WFS
will assist in the
screening and matching of eligible participants.
"Each
participant will receive 65 hours of training," said Rafael
Aguilera, associate dean for Workforce Development at SPC
Byron Martin
ATC. "Participants must have an interest in the industry and
meet the eligibility requirements. They will be subjected to
a drug
test to make sure that are hirable at the end of the six
week training period."
SPC is
currently seeking participants for the General Maintenance
Training Program. If you or someone you know is interested
in a career
in General Maintenance or HVAC Technician, contact Workforce
Solutions South Plains toll-free at 866-765-5038.
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"Students of the SPC General Maintenance Training project
learn the basics of heating and air conditioning
maintenance."
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"The project provides state-of-the-art training equipment
through a partnership with the Roy Jones Training Center."
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Workforce Solutions South
Plains is an equal opportunity employer/programs.
Auxiliary aids and services are available upon request to
individuals
with disabilities. Relay Texas (800) 735-2989 (TDD) or (800)735-2988
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