Case Study

Challenge

Manufacturing employers are in extreme need of skilled individuals to fill critical job vacancies. Unfortunately, manufacturing is a relatively unknown career option for many job seekers. Employers need skilled workers who can immediately make a positive contribution to the team.

The Alliance partnered with NW Skills to lead on the skills development component of the program. The partners worked with industry to determine the most valued skills a new worker could bring to have a successful career. NW Skills designed a skills development certification that would bring to employers the highly-demand skills for entry level manufacturing workers so they could hit the ground running from Day 1. In addition to learning critical manufacturing skills, participants also were trained in safety protocols; how to communicate with supervisors, peers and subordinates; and lean techniques.

Outcome

Employers generally belief the habitual post-secondary education model is broken. They feel training programs are too long at 2-to-4 years and do not give enough real-world practical experience.

What NW Skills offered MPW was very focused training concentrating on critical job skills that were identified by employers as essential. Participants were also offered additional training opportunities to expose them to the diversity of manufacturing allowing them to make a better career choice.

Employers loved that new workers arrived ready to work and brought enthusiasm to the task.