CAMT - Workforce Needs Manufacturers’ Feedback A NIST MEP – Manufacturing Extension Partnership CAMT - Workforce Needs Manufacturers’ Feedback Cynthia Christie VP - Products and Services Development Cynthia.christie@colorado.edu (970)222-9134

CAMT Partnerships CAMT  Ft. Collins Boulder Grand Junction Denver 5S and Lean May 2007 CAMT Partnerships  Ft. Collins Boulder Grand Junction Denver Colorado Springs Technology Assistance Business Assistance STATE LOCAL CAMT FEDERAL INDUSTRY University of Colorado Small Business Development Centers Community Colleges Colorado Lending Source Economic Development Commissions Governor’s Office of Economic Development Boyer Quality Engineering

Manufacturer Feedback 5S and Lean May 2007 Manufacturer Feedback Proactive Companies: Perfect time to train and put good processes in place, but no cash. Workforce Needs: Very specific and basic job skills Knowledge of best practices and general process improvement skills Either a course or two or Formal Certification Biggest dilemma: So many people need to be laid off that there is no one with time to be trained Proactive Companies: Perfect time to train, but no cash. (“Find me a grant”) Very specific job skills in technical areas like the hard sciences, physics, chemistry, engineering in general, or knowledge designing certain kinds of software (eg. web-based). Specific skills such as soldering, welding, print-reading, how to read a gage, tape measure, fine motor assembly and welding, precision machining, for certain people in the company (not necessarily large enough group for a full class at one company).   Want to use Lean and other quality tools to cut costs. Drives some needs are around general process improvement skills such as Lean, Six Sigma, Quality tools, Product Development.   Companies would like to hire people with good team/people skills and work ethic and then teach them about their processes. Can they work in teams? Can they problem solve in a standardized, team-based way? Do they have leadership skills (coach/mentor)? Job Methods. Some only want a course or two for a given individual.  Some want a series of courses to get some employees a particular certification.  Boyer Quality Engineering

Manufacturing Feedback 5S and Lean May 2007 Manufacturing Feedback Most Companies: Downturn = cash crunch Easiest remedy: layoffs First wave, predominantly not the stronger employees Companies who got “caught” Close or start to layoff core employee workforce (Need to hire people already trained) Robotic Amata Brake Presses and Miller (?) welders or other in-house equipment. Those for whom materials is a larger % of product cost: use Lean and other quality tools to cut costs Boyer Quality Engineering

Key Positions People who can make the shop floor run Know how to lead people Know how to train people Know how to Problem Solve and make/lead improvements Workers with proficiency in specific skills Both in production and in the design areas Tremendous concern with retiring workforce and generational differences of people replacing them

Should also be asking for… 5S and Lean May 2007 Should also be asking for… Training in: Tools for capturing “know how” Supervisor “training” skills Supervisor “leadership” skills Standardized Problem Solving skills Sustainability, Conservation and Green Growth Tools “Advanced Manufacturing” skills Red more urgent. Blue more proactive. TWI, Yellow Belt can work for “red” GSN VSM and new tools for Sustainability, Conservation, Green Supply Chain, Technology translation and commercialization, Marketing, EWW!, Product Development all of which can cross over to sustainability, etc. Boyer Quality Engineering

Thinking Large Where will the employers come from? Some from existing Some from new Next Big Thing: “ET” Colorado uniquely positioned