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.