Many of these employers also provide instructors who partner with teachers from the vocational school. This is im- portant since the skills required for manufacturing jobs have changed dramatically as companies have incorporated new technologies into their operations. The MSMI training includes blueprint reading, math for manufacturing, metrology, CAD and CAM instruction, with a signifi cant portion of the current 220-hour training dedicated to hands-on applications in a lab/shop setting. The training is project-based and reinforces the use of applied skills needed in workplace situations.
Tooling U-SME Supports Program
Students also have additional online assignments to dem- onstrate their mastery of the topics learned in class. Green- fi eld Community College partnered with Tooling U-SME, a division of SME, a leader in manufacturing training and development. Subscriptions to the Tooling U-SME courses were funded by the Massachusetts Community College and
last summer and worked with area manufacturers such as VSS, Hillside Plastics, Hassay-Savage and New England Natu- rals to pilot online classes for their incumbent workers. Since the collaborative training programs began, 29 students have graduated from the MSMI program and found employment across 13 area manufacturers. Eighty-nine stu- dents have enrolled in Tooling U-SME courses, completing nearly 4000 classes.
Local average overall wages in the Manufacturing sector
are $47,372, above the region’s average annual salary of $37,000. The Spring cohort of 14 MSMI graduates were all placed into employment with salaries ranging from $13 to $19 per hour to start and averaging $15.50 with opportuni- ties for continued advancement and training. Advanced manufacturing is booming in Massachusetts and the collaborative manufacturing training programs underway will continue to be expanded to provide a range of options that meet the needs of students. Greenfi eld Community College is one of the 15 Massachusetts Community Colleges funded
The Middle Skills Manufacturing Initiative (MSMI) trains entry-level CNC operators and was created through a collaboration between educators, employers and government.
Workforce Development Transformations Agenda (MC- CWDTA), which is fully funded through a $20 million Trade Adjustment Assistance Community College and Career Training (TAACCCT) grant from the US Department of Labor Employment and Training Administration. Instructors and area businesses collaborated on the
specifi c Tooling U-SME classes to supplement the hands-on training. Once the required courses were completed, stu- dents were encouraged to continue to take online classes to build their skills and work with their employers to customize a training program upon hire. The MSMI program, launched in Fall 2013, has quickly
received very positive feedback. More than 100 people ap- plied for the 15 training slots in that initial class and Tooling U-SME online subscriptions were provided to 12 “runner- up” applicants to build their skills until the next training. This approach successfully allowed students to showcase their motivation, willingness to learn new skills and be on the top of the recruitment list for the next training. To further help develop skilled workers, Greenfi eld Commu- nity College developed a Foundational Manufacturing Training
by TAACCCT grants to address the training and educational needs of workers and employers statewide with a focus on articulated pathways to careers in high-growth STEM sec- tors (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) as well as advanced manufacturing and healthcare. Improving the perception of manufacturing is critical to en- courage students and potential workers to choose manufac- turing education and careers. The MassDevelopment Offi ce’s “AMP It Up!” campaign showcases how advanced manufac- turing careers can put Massachusetts and its workers on the path to success through creative, highly skilled, and well- paying jobs. As our local billboard profi ling two of our MSMI graduates states, advanced manufacturing provides “Great careers and strong futures.”
Alyce Stiles is the Director of Workforce Development at Greenfi eld Community in Greenfi eld, MA.
February 2015 |
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