YouTube and 140-character Twitter feeds—and putting together short videos that talk about our available educational opportunities and tuition reimbursement, as well as the good careers available to them.” Waukesha also is working to cultivate a younger generation of metalcasting workers through schol- arship programs and summer intern- ships. The company also reaches out to college students, working to attract recent graduates. “We are focusing most of our
attention on attracting young adults out of high school,” Kurek said. “We are working with local school districts and our chamber of commerce to get the message out to young adults that there are good career options in metalcasting. We also work with the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee to attract engineering students to the metalcasting industry.” Zellers said it’s also important
to showcase the value of a 2-year technical degree, when many are pressured at home and school to go for a 4-year degree. “Students can take their 2-year associate degree, start [at Waupaca] and make $60,000 a year without stu- dent loan debt,” Zellers said. “Whereas some of those coming out with 4-year degrees may have a really nice educa- tion, but then they leave [the commu- nity] or are jobless.”
Working on Retention While technical skills make up
a large portion of an employer’s requirements, it’s not the only thing that matters. “We need to be sure to attract potential employees who have the right attitude and aptitude to be suc- cessful in those positions,” Kurek said. Keeping the good, qualified can-
didates around is another hurdle for many metalcasters.
“Changing the perception [of metalcasting] will take a lot of
promotion by all of us.” — Ken Kurek “A metalcasting facility is much
like any organization in that there are many good reasons to come to work, but also many reasons not to,” Karnes said. “Retention makes the most dif- ference in profitability and longevity of a metalcasting facility, in my opinion.” According to Karnes, much of the
problem in keeping employees around lies within the work environment. “I think many people come to work at a metalcasting facility and find it to their liking, but may be poorly treated by their supervisors,” she said. “My experience is that supervisors are largely unaware of what they do to discourage people from staying.” Karnes suggests simple things that
can make a world of difference to workers, like checking in with employ- ees on a regular basis and providing a safe work atmosphere. “When employees begin to feel they
are important to the foundry and any difficulties will be handled promptly, they gain confidence,” Karnes said. “I think safety and personal comfort efforts are paramount.” Employers can ensure safety at their metalcasting facilities by strictly enforcing the proper use of personal protection equipment (PPE) and ensuring employees are properly trained on how and when to use it.
Such things as good lighting and proper climate control when possible in the metalcasting facility can boost comfort for employees. In addition, supervisors should take time to help workers visualize their careers. “We have created career paths within our metalcasting facility so that young employees can see how their career can grow as they add new skills,” Kurek said. And, as the phrase goes, money
talks. When workers know they are being invested in and can progress toward higher salary levels, they are more likely to stay working and motivated. “We constantly reassess the com-
pensation and benefits in order to stay competitive with other companies within the industry,” Kurek said. At the end of the day, supervisors and management are the link between workers and the metalcasting facility and have the chance to make or break employee impressions. “Supervisors make a tremendous
difference because they represent the metalcasting facility to the employees, and the management must be consis- tently making decisions based on the mutual good of both employees and the ownership,” Karnes said.
ONLINE RESOURCE
Looking for a metalcasing job or employee? Visit the metalcasting job board at
www.afsinc.org.
Offering internships, college work programs and scholarships is a good way for your company to be on the minds of students and recent graduates.
October 2012 MODERN CASTING | 33
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