December Success Story - Miller Welding and Machine Company.

 A great success story coming from the WEDnetPA partner - North Central PA Regional Planning and Development Commission featuring participating company: Miller Welding and Machine Company.

 

Miller Welding and Machine Company started business over 40 years ago, catering to the mining and lumber industries in Western Pennsylvania, then evolved for decades with the steel industry as its core customer.  In the 1980’s, MWM became integrated in the manufacturing industry by providing customized parts for various industries including construction, plastics and food.  Three generations of Miller’s working all aspects of the business are helping to ensure the growing company’s workforce needs.  Today, more than doubling its size over the last year, MWM employs approximately 400 people.  While a blessing, MWM is now faced with real workforce issues.

 

Sharon (Drukenbrod) Engle, Director of Human Resources, has many priorities she wants to address this year.  The first is the lack of required skill sets coming through her door.  Two of these needs are skilled machinists and robotic welders.  Her second priority is communication systems/layers of supervision.  Because of the rapid hiring pace, MWM needs to focus on good communication to keep pace with the increased staffing and levels of supervision.  With focus on production, it is easy to forget the basics; how to deal with people, how people learn, how communication flows from one step to the next.  MWM is also focused on the building of an internal career ladder.  Hiring from within, skills are needed to move a person up the ladder.  Despite these challenges, MWM is confident that they will achieve their goals.

Partnering with North Central, Miller Welding has been benefiting from training initiatives funded through the WEDnePA program.  MWM completely believes in this program.  We know that North Central will work with us to address our training needs.  WEDnet is a great addition to the menu of services North Central provides us.  Donna Hottel has been there to support and guide us through the WEDnet process and will work with us to maximize our dollars.  She has truly been an asset to our company and many others in the North Central Region and is always ready and willing to help with anything needed.  She has truly made the WEDnet system user-friendly and easy to understand.

November Success Story - Osram Sylvania

A great success story coming from the WEDnetPA partner - North Central PA Regional Planning and Development Commission featuring participating company: Osram Sylvania.  

Registered in 1906, OSRAM SYLVANIA, INC., has been producing incandescent light bulbs for over 100 years in the St. Marys area, with the last 55 years at our current location.  As a major employer in Elk County, the years have presented several challenges and opportunities in process improvement and new product initiatives.

In 2007, OSRAM SYLVANIA, had record sales.  With production increasing, the need for new skilled workers also increased.  OSRAM SYLVANIA addressed this need and continues to do so with a rigorous hiring process requiring both a written and mechanical aptitude test.  Operating three shifts round the clock, employees must be able to troubleshoot the production process.  OSRAM SYLVANIA is also faced with ongoing legislative and environmental challenges as we move to conserve and “go green.”  The halogen bulb and the new LED street lamp are responses to this move and show how OSRAM SYLVANIA has been creative despite challenges.

Fortunately, OSRAM SYLVANIA in St. Marys had North Central to help us address our need for a skilled workforce.  North Central has been working with OSRAM SYLVANIA since mid 1990’s.  With three Customized Job Training Grants, a Governor’s Action Team Award, and WEDnetPA, OSRAM SYLVANIA used resources available to us through the Department of Community and Economic Development to focus efforts to develop and implement training programs advancing our workers’ skills.  “Programs such as WEDnet offered us the ability to use our own resources, our employees, as trainers for complex operating procedures,” remarked Cindy Cortinovis, Human Resource Supervisor for OSRAM SYLVANIA.  “We also have the flexibility to hire third-party trainers or consultants, if needed.  Training made simple.  Such partnerships are key to past and future ventures.”

I advise companies who face similar training challenges to look for funding opportunities through programs such as WEDnetPA.

October Featured Success Story

A great success story coming from the WEDnetPA partner - North Central PA Regional Planning and Development Commission featuring participating company: Keystone Powdered Metal Company.  

Commonly referred to as the “Powdered Metal Capital of the World”, St. Marys, Pennsylvania is home to Keystone Powdered Metal Company, a large manufacturer of powdered metal components and assemblies for the automotive industry.  Approximately 40% of the world’s powdered metal parts are produced by just 55 powder metallurgy plants in our region, employing over 10,000 people.  These parts are common to the automotive industry, lawn and garden products and home appliances.  As a major Tier I and Tier II supplier to the auto industry, Keystone was challenged with how to address - Quality Assurance.  As benchmarks for quality are met or exceeded, consumer’s expectations increase and the benchmarks for quality are raised.  We have shown our commitment to product quality and customer compliance by moving from the national standards to the International TS 16949 quality management system.

Keystone is continually faced with the need to train new and existing employees.  Our people are our greatest resource.  Training is as much a commitment to our people as it is to quality.  The top training needs for Keystone are Internal Auditing and Geometric Dimensioning & Tolerances (GD&T), both specifically affecting Quality Assurance.  Quality Assurance is essential to our industry.

North Central plays a significant role in workforce development for our region.  We have been utilizing WEDnetPA since 2001.  WEDnet has been a steady resource in addressing our training needs, especially when we’ve seen decreases in our training budget.  In particular, the auto industry saw recession in 2008-2009.  Our region was hit especially hard and we watched our unemployment rate rise into the double digits, some (areas) nearing 20%.  As things are starting to pick up for the auto industry, we need to be particularly cognizant of quality and ensuring that we are prepared to exceed standards, and this means more training.

North Central is not only our WEDnet Partner, but…is key in locating training providers and bringing key training components to our region, such as Human Resources related training, Employment Law, etc.  WEDnetPA has helped us get to where we want to go…(and) when it comes to our Workforce Development needs, North Central is there.

September Featured Success Story

A great success story coming from the WEDnetPA partner - Northampton Community College featuring participating company: Micro-Clean, Inc.  

 

Micro-Clean, Inc., in business in the Lehigh Valley since 1974, provides critical cleanroom, HEPA filtration, containment device and calibration independent testing services to a myriad of major pharmaceutical, biotechnology, healthcare, education, chemical manufacturers and research institutions within the mid-Atlantic and southern New England states.  To accomplish these services to the highest possible quality standards, we place great emphasis on internal knowledge-based and proficiency training of our technical and support staff.  This has resulted in building and keeping a highly-knowledgeable and dedicated technical workforce.  This training also allows opportunities for individual advancement and personal growth to expand a person’s knowledge and experience.

As the economy took a downturn over the past three years, Micro-Clean was already prepared to work “lean” – still maintain high quality, but do it with fewer resources.  Micro-Clean has been fortunate that our business model has allowed us to grow, expand and hire new personnel, when other businesses are scaling back, laying-off personnel, or shutting down.

The challenge we face in being a lean organization is:  “When you are training, you are not servicing your customers and removing technical trainers from your personnel pool.”  So we had to make our training sessions deliver the powerful technical message with clarity and brevity, thereby providing knowledge retention and job proficiency.

One service we provide to our customers is technical training sessions on various topics such as cleanrooms and HEPA Filters in the regulated pharmaceutical industry, Biological Safety Cabinet and containment device testing, and Laboratory Ventilation safety programs.  This service helps our customers’ industrial hygiene & safety, operations and facility maintenance staff stay current and knowledgeable about our ever-changing regulations, standards and recommended testing practices in our field. These training sessions require a trainer who is technically knowledgeable and a comfortable public speaker.

One of the first places we looked at was how well our trainers were instructing our personnel and were they delivering the training objectives in a way that promotes knowledge retention.  We brought in outside personnel from an institute that specialized in training public speakers, training plan development, and critiquing the actual execution of a prepared training lesson.  The results were almost immediate.  Trainers were preparing lively informative presentations and trainee feedback critique results showed a marked improvement from previous training sessions.

A second area Micro-Clean targeted was Customer Service interaction with the customer.  This started by training the Customer Service staff on better communication techniques as well as knowledge of our technical services provided so they could better serve the customer.  Preliminary findings from this training are that the customer communication has improved and customers are more aware of other services available to them that they currently may not be taking full advantage.

Our WEDnetPA program partner organization, Northampton Community College, has been a valuable source for helping us to find the best outside training sources. After our public speaking training class, later customer training sessions have resulted in new training requests from additional customers and industry organizations asking for our personnel to lecture at their seminars.

The WEDnetPA program also helped to recoup some of the costs of sending our personnel out for the above-mentioned sessions. This was invaluable in “getting the most bang for our buck”.  In today’s economy, any dollar saved helped.  Without this assistance, some of our training and larger company goals may have been delayed or altered in order to remain fiscally responsible to Micro-Clean and its valuable employees.

August Featured Success Story

A great success story coming from the WEDnetPA partner - Millersville University, The Corporate University, featuring participating company: Turkey Hill Dairy. 

At Turkey Hill Dairy we are committed to producing quality wholesome products for our customers, and that means we don’t compromise on quality – ever – even in the current economy, even with dramatic cost increases in raw materials and fuel. Our challenge is to deliver on our commitment while managing uncontrollable costs with the right balance of investment in people, processes, and equipment.

                                 

Turkey Hill Dairy is on a mission to eliminate non-value added activities and waste.  Specifically, we are preparing our associates to better utilize technology and apply the Principles of Lean to our operations. By looking internally at what is within our control, our associates are uncovering opportunities to positively impact how we run our operation amidst current economic realities.

With the support for WEDnetPA, we’ve made great strides toward our goal of becoming a continuous improvement culture; their investment in us has helped off-set the cost of training.  WEDnet is an untapped resource, and in many organizations, training is the first line item cut from the budget.  Turkey Hill Dairy’s decision to invest in Lean and technology training expands our organizational capacity.

Contact WEDnetPA Director before you build your training plan for next year! 

July Featured Success Story

A great success story coming from the WEDnetPA partner - Community College of Allegheny County, featuring participating company: Wojanis Supply Company, Inc.  

Our challenge has been finding workers who come to us with hydraulic experience.  Typically, we find shop workers with tool skills and mechanical skills and then need to train them on hydraulics.  Finding good, relevant training in hydraulics locally has also been a challenge for us.  Our hiring pool is further restricted by location as we have hired at least three workers who seemed to fit the bill with their level of experience, but lost them all due to commute distance.  We need to hire local candidates who have mechanical background and then train them in hydraulics.

Having a value added service, such as repair, helped our company weather the recession.  We found that our customers appreciated having the option to repair rather than replace during difficult financial times.  Our effort went to positioning Wojanis as the PREMIER fluid power parts and service provider.  While, like most other companies, our sales were down through the recession, the impact was minimal.  We did not have to downsize or cut wages due to the fact that we offered a wide range of parts and service – all under one roof.  It is critical for us to have an informed, well-trained sales and service staff.  We value continuing education and used some down time to step up our skill level and continue offering superior service.

WEDnetPA was a tremendous help to us.  WEDnetPA funding helped us pay for training during the downturn while we may have had the extra time to focus on training, but less funds to supply it on our own.  Our partner institution couldn’t have been more helpful in providing custom designed training to meet our specific needs.  It was wonderful to have training that was entirely relevant and provided in our own facility.  The instructors were able to tailor their program and respond to our real life workplace needs.  We would highly recommend WEDnetPA and encourage others to investigate their website, contact a partnering institution, or feel free to contact us with any questions.  Our WEDnetPA experience was great in all aspects – the funding opportunity, the custom designed training, and the partner institution that was always available to assist in any way.

WEDnetPA Partners Busy!

April of each year starts the second quarter for businesses that follow the calendar year as their fiscal year, but for the WEDnetPA partners it represents the beginning of the fourth quarter of grant activity and perhaps the busiest time of the year.  Typically the partners are submerged in activities related to closing the current fiscal year and at the same time pursuing applications from businesses for the next year.  April also typically means participation in the annual professional development conference, providing a chance for the partners to meet, review program processes, and to establish protocol for the coming year.

Immediately following the conference, May marks the beginning of the application period.  A new on-line portfolio management system known as ISAAC will be introduced at the conference.  Not only will partners benefit tremendously from the new features and capabilities, but for the first time businesses interested in applying for funds will be able to apply on-line.  It is expected that ISAAC will be available to accept on-line applications for the upcoming fiscal year (2011-2012) around mid-May 2011.

And WEDnetPA activity continues to heat up in June.  In the final month of the fiscal year, partners are busy processing invoices, closing out contracts and ensuring that all of the WEDnetPA funds are accounted for and wisely spent.

April, May, and June of each year – the WEDnetPA Partners are busy!

Budget Process

On March 8, 2011, Governor Tom Corbett released his proposed budget for the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.  There are many challenges facing the Commonwealth and as a result many proposed budgetary reductions. WEDnetPA, a program that obtains its operating budget through DCED (Department of Community and Economic Development), represents just one area that may receive a reduction in budgetary funds for the 2011-2012 fiscal year.

The Governor has proposed to create a new program called the PA First Fund. This program will replace the former Opportunity Grants, Customized Job Training (which funds WEDnetPA), and Infrastructure Development programs.  Last year the 3 programs combined were funded at $41 million and the new PA First Fund is currently positioned to receive $25 million, that’s a 40% reduction in overall funding. For WEDnetPA, this comes on the heels of a cumulative 65% reduction in funding over the previous three years.  At this point no specific details have been released on how the funds will be utilized within the new PA First program.

WEDnetPA, comprised of more than 30 partners statewide, is working diligently to help ensure that the Governor and legislators are aware and understand the value that the WEDnetPA program brings to Pennsylvania businesses and the economy.  While the WEDnetPA administrative team and the statewide partners are very actively discussing the positive impacts, everyone who recognizes the benefits of this program is encouraged to get involved because more budgetary impacts could be imminent.  The program needs your help and advocacy.  You can get involved in several ways:

1. Like or follow WEDnetPA on Facebook and Twitter
2. Contact your state senator and representative and ask for their support
3. Contact your WEDnetPA partner organization
4. Contact the Statewide Administrative office

The WEDnetPA team remains optimistic about the future and about the opportunity to continue helping Pennsylvania businesses improve and the economy recover!  Thank you for your help and support.

Efficient, Effective and Friendly

Nearly two years ago WEDnetPA started on a journey to create a more efficient and effective process for managing their GFT (Guaranteed Free Training) portfolio. Over thirty WEDnetPA partners are spread throughout the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, processing thousands of client applications each year.

Launching in April 2011, a new system fondly known as “ISAAC” will be introduced at the annual professional development conference.  ISAAC, WEDnetPA’s Information Sharing, Administration & Analysis Center, will include significant processing enhancements which support the activities of WEDnetPA administrators, partners, and participating businesses. Beginning in May, the system will be open for businesses to apply online for GFT funds for the fiscal year 2011-2012. Those already familiar with the current paper application process will recognize ease of use and exciting new features which will include:

• On-line application submission 
• Electronic signing and submission of MOA (Memorandum Of Agreement) 
• Ability to create and modify an online training plan 
• Paperless invoicing

Statewide partners will enjoy the ability to track all of their activity, making managing a portfolio easier while also reducing paperwork, time and cost. Similar to most states, Pennsylvania is very interested in streamlining processes and improving efficiencies. WEDnetPA, which is funded by the Department of Community and Economic Development, has strategically aligned their efforts to improve efficiencies and make information more available in real-time and on-demand.

Watch for more information about ISAAC, coming to a computer screen near you – May 2011. 

WEDnetPA Annual Report

WEDnetPA has been helping improve Pennsylvania's workforce by providing grant funding to qualifying businesses. The fiscal year 2010-2011 is in full motion and the application process for the 2011-2012 fiscal year is scheduled to begin in May 2010.

WEDnetPA also plans to unveil a new on-line processing system (ISAAC) that has been 2 years in the making. The new system will allow both WEDnetPA partners, and contracting businesses to be more efficient and timely. Currently the system is scheduled to be "open for business" on or about Monday, May 2, 2011. WEDnetPA Annual Report

WEDnetPA Makes a Difference!

The Workforce and Economic Development Network of Pennsylvania (WEDnetPA) was created to make companies across the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania more competitive by updating and improving the skills of their employees to meet specific company needs.

WEDnetPA is an alliance of a variety of educational providers across Pennsylvania — including Pennsylvania's 14 State System universities, Pennsylvania's 14 community colleges and other educational providers — that acts as the delivery mechanism for the Commonwealth's Guaranteed Free Training (GFT) program. Each provider/WEDnetPA partner serves as the point of contact for businesses accessing GFT funds.

Through the GFT Program, qualified in-state businesses and out-of-state companies relocating to the economic-friendly business climate of Pennsylvania can access funding for a wide range of training (categorized as either Basic Skills Training or Information Technology Training).