Putting Southeast Wisconsin’s Underemployed and Unemployed Back to Work in High-Tech, High-Skilled Jobs

Presented at 2007 Best Practices in Career and Technical Education Conference September 28, 2007  Oklahoma City, OK

CNC Boot Camp Melissa Hennessy Employment Consultant Racine County Workforce Development Center Racine, WI Ed Knudson Executive Director Workforce and Economic Development Division Gateway Technical College Kenosha, WI Presented by:

Workforce Development Area Numbers as of December Population is 2005 estimate, source: Wisconsin DWD. Racine County 193,239 pop. Walworth County 98,496 pop. Kenosha County 158,219 Pop. Kenosha County employer base Number of businesses: 3,068 Number of employees: 78,648 Racine County employer base Number of businesses: 4,134 Number of employees: 94,026 Walworth County employer base Number of businesses: 2,697 Number of employees: 53,718

Gateway District in Workforce Development Area Elkhorn Campus CATI Burlington Campus Racine Campus Bioscience Center Kenosha Campus Horizon Center Lakeview ATC

Kenosha County Kenosha Campus 27 Associate Degree programs Health career labs Center for Bioscience and Information Technology Biomedical/pharmacology Telecommunications/computer technology IBM I Series Assessment Center LakeView Advanced Technology Center Automated Manufacturing Industrial Mechanical Tech Certificate programs Horizon Center For Transportation Technology Opened Fall 2007 Automotive programs Aeronautics

Racine County Burlington Campus Center Health Careers Racine Campus Cosmetology Machine Tool Technician Health Information Technology Nursing Engineering Auto Shop Center For Advanced Technology and Innovation (CATI) Business Development Workforce Development Technology Innovation

Walworth County Elkhorn Campus 13 associate degree programs Alternative High School Walworth County Job Center Walworth County Economic Development Alliance

Unemployment By County Kenosha County Racine County Walworth County ,4725,7092, ,6725,8852, ,6186,5482, ,089 7,6292, ,8678,2782,596 All figures are average monthly. Wisconsin DWD. For Workforce Development Area:

Employment in Manufacturing As of December 2005 # Manufacturing employers: 758 # Employed in manufacturing: 38,346 DWD March 2007 For Workforce Development Area:

All figures are estimates. Wisconsin DWD. Number of CNC jobs: 630 Number of CNC jobs in surrounding counties: 2,480 Projected annual increase: 3% CNC Employment For Workforce Development Area:

Employers Workforce Development Centers Gateway Skilled worker shortage Job seekers CNC program changes CNCBOOTCAMP

Building a Strong Employee Base Bill McReynolds Racine County Executive Racine, WI

Planning the Boot Camp

Workforce & Economic Development Division Advanced Technology Centers Business Development Workforce Development Technology Innovation Training Advanced Manufacturing Network Promoting Economic Growth

Needs Analysis Machine Tool program closed Employment remains flat Area demand for CNC operators

Focus group Demand-driven training Skills set requirements Establishing competencies Employer Outreach

Boot Camp Synergy EmployersEmployers Employer outreach Recruitment Pre-assessments Case management Job placement Job retention Curriculum development Instruction Skills standards testing Focus group Completion ceremony

Community Collaboration Bryan Albrecht President, Gateway Technical College Kenosha, WI

Workforce Development Center PromotionRecruitment Assessment Funding

Promotion Notification to caseworkers and staff Postings at job centers Gateway Technical College website and brochures Press releases and newspaper articles Word-of-mouth

Recruitment Orientation Interview Self-screening Adult skills tutoring

Assessment Basic skills assessment TABE testing for minimum math and reading skills NOCTI pre-test

Funding Adult or dislocated worker $2,200 per student Available funding VA WIA TAA Vocational Rehab. Community Development Block Grants Federal Financial Aid Self-pay Employer-funded Community benefactors

Surviving Boot Camp John Gomez Student

Program Design

Curriculum Development Employer input Change from on-campus program Boot Camp is dynamic: Added metric measurements Added team concepts Manufacturing Skills Standards Council (MSSC) credentialing Student support time built in Added Critical Core Manufacturing Skills (CCMS)

CNC Intro/Support Equipment Basics CNC Machine Tool Operation CNC Offsets and Operations Gauging/Inspection Introduction to Manufacturing Excellence Manufacturing Shop Safety Blueprint Reading Applied Mathematics Boot Camp Curriculum

Boot Camp Program Structure 14 weeks/5 days a week 8 hours per day 495 hour program Simulate work environment

On the Job Craig Maeschen Instructor Gateway Technical College

Skills Validation National Occupational Competency Testing Institute (NOCTI) Precision Machining assessment NOCTI score on student’s certificate

Precision Machining Assessment Organization and Shop Practices Measurement/Inspection Drill Presses Lathes Metallurgical Processes and Heat Treating Blueprint Interpretation and Process Planning Layout and Bench work Band Saw Machines CNC Programming, Preparation, Operations CNC Programming Using a CAM System Vertical Milling Machines Precision Grinding Machines Competency categories assessed: The NOCTI score report includes both a composite score and category scores for the assessment. Baseline skills and growth are measured in each of the categories listed above.

Average NOCTI Scores Boot Camps 4-7 N=60 Pre-test scores were points below the national average Post-test scores were points below the national average Participants increased their scores by points after 14 weeks of CNC Boot Camp

Boot Camp Enrollments Students enrolled compared to students finishing Boot Camp: Boot Camps Total enrollments: 120 Total finishing program: 107

Employment Consultant Value-added approach starts with enrollment/orientation Identify and assist students with barriers to success Track attendance Assumes many roles

Defining The Participants Who (participant needs) drives EC role (width and depth) Broad range = challenges and opportunities Age Race Education Life and work experiences

Supporting Student Success Employment Consultant serves as: Mentor Coach Cheerleader Enforcer and Reinforcer Drill Sergeant (shared w/GTC Lead Instructor) Mother Confessor

Employment Consultant Value Is it really necessary? Program design challenges for the Employment Consultant Value added approach starts with enrollment/orientation Communication – constant throughout process Recognizing the ‘teachable moments’

Contingency Planning Something for everyone to learn Introduced early Another tool to prepare participants for the workplace

Identifying Barriers To Success Transportation Child care Personal/family health AODA Shelter Probation/parole required meetings Reporting requirements from other agencies Behavioral issues

Minimizing Barriers Identify individual’s needs Match to appropriate community resources Homeless shelter/meal programs Department of Corrections Health Care Network Women’s Resource Center Racine Vocational Ministries Public Defender

Academic Barriers Time away from classroom Lack of study skills Lack of study environment Learning disabilities

Employment Preparation Job search/interviewing skills workshop One-on-one resume assistance Mock interviews Business Services Team marketing efforts

Post-Boot Camp

Job Retention/Follow-Up Employment Consultant role does not end with employment Job search coaching continues Some require high level of support and involvement Locate resources for employment barriers: transportation, child care, community programs and resources and others

Post-Boot Camp Employment Employment figures reflect those participants that respond to post-Boot Camp tracking Reasons for non- employment in CNC… layoffs, job change, etc. For Boot camps1-5

Workforce Development Centers Support Employers Develop a qualified applicant pool Coordinate employment interviews at completion ceremony Provide placement services Resume booklet Direct employer contact

Program Value to Employers Employees with technical skills Employees with soft skills Improved work habits for new hires Improved employee retention

Program Value to Employers Skills assessments: Value of NOCTI as a standard for skills assessment Value of Manufacturing Skills Standards Council (MSSC) credentialing Value of Critical Core Manufacturing Skills (CCMS) skills certificate

Manufacturing Skills Standards Council (MSSC) Credentialing Creation of a safe workplace Environmental safety inspections Emergency drills Correction of unsafe conditions Safety orientation training Safety equipment use Work environment safety Safety-related maintenance Equipment monitoring for safety Operator safety Communication of safety problems Safety Assessment Competencies:

Critical Core Manufacturing Skills (CCMS) Developed by the Wisconsin Technical College System and area manufacturers as part of the Advanced Manufacturing Solutions initiative Focus on necessary skills in current manufacturing environment in four key areas: Productivity Problem Solving Teamwork Adaptability

Critical Core Manufacturing Skills (CCMS) Integrated into Boot Camp through coursework and exercises Certificate awarded for score of 90% or higher Of Boot Camp 7 participants: 68% attained certificate 25% achieved a perfect score For more information:

Current and Future State

Program Status On-campus program reinstated in Fall program parallels Boot Camp curriculum Challenge of supply vs. demand and resources Program model applied to Welding Boot Camp and future other occupational Boot Camps

Machine Tool Program Closed Program receives state recognition at 2006 GWDC, Appleton, WI Program receives Sustainable Racine Award Boot Camp 1 Jan. 3 - April 15, students Boot Camp 2 May 2 - August 5, students Boot Camp 3 Sept Dec. 16, students Boot Camp 4 March 6 - June 9, students Boot Camp 6 Nov. 7 - Feb. 16, students Boot Camp 5 Sept Dec. 15, students Boot Camp 7 May 7- Aug. 10, students Program receives national recognition at NAWB Forum 2005 Conference Washington, DC Boot Camp Program resumes in response to area employer demand CNC Boot Camp Program Timeline

Lessons Learned Working with accelerated timelines Need for status meetings Value of the Employment Consultant Necessity of student tutoring Equipment availability What didn’t work: non-compliance with program policies

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