1. CAMT - Workforce Needs Manufacturers’ Feedback
A NIST MEP – Manufacturing Extension Partnership
CAMT - Workforce Needs Manufacturers’ Feedback
Cynthia Christie
VP - Products and Services Development
(970)

2. 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
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LOCAL
CAMT
FEDERAL
INDUSTRY
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Small Business Development Centers
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Colorado Lending Source
Economic Development Commissions
Governor’s Office of Economic Development
Boyer Quality Engineering

3. 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

4. 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

5. 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

6. 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

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