Advertising in MoldMaking Technology offers
Issue link: https://mmt.epubxp.com/i/111447
Workforce Development Fast-Track Programs Perhaps mold manufacturers looking to ���nd skilled workers should consider looking for potential employees who have taken a ���fast track��� or ���boot camp��� program such as the following: accelerated Learning m-TeC M-TEC (Lake Michigan College; Benton Harbor, MI; lakemichigancollege.edu), funded in part by the Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC; michiganadvantage.org), is focused on the training needs of area industry and their current and potential employees. Classes include CNC Basics I and II, Introduction to SolidWorks and Welding Basics. M-TEC Director Ken Flowers points out that the program was developed several years as an alternative to the traditional college training method or four-year apprenticeship program. ���We need employees today and taking a few classes at a time over several semesters is a lengthy process,��� he comments. ���We decided to recruit individuals with some manufacturing experience and give them 120 hours of training.��� CnC Boot Camp CNC Boot Camp at Waukesha County Technical College (WCTC; Waukesha, WI; wctc.edu)���coordinated by the agency Wisconsin Regional Training Partnership (WRTP; wrtp.org)���is geared toward training workers with little or no experience into entry-level CNC operator positions. The 200 hours of training received is a combination of work on CNC machining centers, CNC turning centers, manual machine operation, blueprint reading and math. According to Moldmaking/CNC Instructor Robert Novak, courses average between 12 to 16 participants, with a very strict attendance policy. Novak is a ���rm believer that after boot camp is completed, students should enroll in more classes to continue their training. Production Technical academy The Production Technical Academy at Kalamazoo Valley Community College (kvcc.edu) was also one of 18 M-TEC facilities across the stated ���nanced the MEDC. The name is currently being transitioned to the Groves Center and is guided by the Advanced Manufacturing Consortium���a group of 26 local companies that formed to develop a model to attract, screen and train quali���ed candidates for current and future Advanced Manufacturing career opportunities. According to Executive Director of Training Cynthia Buckley, the program���s goal is to deliver accelerated training programs in the form of corporate training and academies. Participants attend class Monday through Friday for four-and-a-half weeks with an average class size of 16. 48 MoldMaking Technology March 2013 sphere with all computerized high-tech machines and software programs, along with learning the manual machines. These guys know so many little things that make a huge difference in outcomes of our molds.��� Martin adds that Van Fulpen plans to keep working at Accu-Mold while studying the Engineering Technology program at Western Michigan University. ���Wyatt is a young man who stays on task so it is very motivating for our veterans to work with him,��� Martin says. Martin of Accu-Mold is hopeful that all of the aforementioned efforts will be successful���whether mold manufacturers rely on the experience of retirees or grow their own younger talent. ���We are using all of these ���weapons��� to develop the new talent that is needed,��� he concludes. ���We need to recruit retirees, look at ���boot camps��� at universities for unemployed or undecided HS students to fast track them, and reach into the youth programs and counselors to get students excited about sophisticated manufacturing and rebranding it. Today���s world of manufacturing is a career���not a job!��� FoR moRe inFoRmaTion: Accu-Mold, Inc. / (269) 323-0388 dave@accu-moldinc.com / accu-moldinc.com CS Tool Engineering, Inc. / (616) 696-0940 donsnow@cste.com / cste.com Electroform Company / (815) 633-1113 wclark@injectionmoldmaking.com / injectionmoldmaking.com Franchino Mold / (517) 321-5609 bradr@franchino.com / franchino.com LS Mold Inc. / (616) 392-5926 larryk@lsmold.com / lsmold.com Matrix Tooling, Inc. / (630) 595-6144 pzieg@matrixtooling.com / matrixtooling.com