"The problem
we found was lack of motivation by potential
employees – to show up for an interview,
show up for work, to be consistent about coming
to work …"
Name:
Bill Myers,
Plant Manager
Superbolt, Inc.
Location:
Pittsburgh,
Pa.
Training Partner:
New Century
Careers
Year Partnership
Began:
1998
In
the late 1990s, Superbolt, Inc. was a small but
growing manufacturer of specialty bolts and related
products facing a serious shortage of stable, steady
workers. Especially challenging, says Plant Manager
Bill Myers was finding employees with a solid work
ethic and the "soft skills" necessary
to succeed on the job.
"One of the problems at the time – and
we weren’t the only people in this boat –
was finding not so much qualified employees, but
motivated employees," says Myers. "We
were very willing to hire a kid straight out of
high school with no background, we didn’t care.
The problem we found was lack of motivation by potential
employees – to show up for an interview, show
up for work, to be consistent about coming to work
…"
"I
think the fact that they got to sit
in a classroom and learn a few things
about manufacturing probably gave them
a little better base understanding of
what actually is going on."
To
the rescue came a Pittsburgh-based sectoral development
program that today is known as New Century Careers
(NCC). By intently listening to and working with
a group of area employers, NCC was able to craft
a targeted, industry-specific program that ultimately
supplied Superbolt and other local manufacturers
with a consistent source of capable, ready-to-work
graduates.
Even better, NCC’s training not only ensured
that graduates were motivated but also introduced
them to some of the fundamentals of manufacturing.
For instance, trainees were exposed to basic machine
shop equipment and techniques. So by the time they
entered the hiring pool, they were a notch above
uninitiated job seekers.
As Myers describes it, NCC graduates had "a
six-month head start on the average person off the
street with no background. In other words, I didn’t
spend six months trying to get them to that same
point." And, he adds, "I think the fact
that they got to sit in a classroom and learn a
few things about manufacturing probably gave them
a little better base understanding of what actually
is going on."
To
establish its training program, NCC relied
on grants from a variety of sources, including
the Heinz Endowment. In addition, NCC charges
companies a nominal fee for each employee
they hire.
Through the years, NCC has established strong
on-going relationships with dozens of area
companies that have helped shape and improve
the training offered. These close ties have
been a "win" for both parties: NCC
offers relevant, up-to-date training courses
and employers gain access to a steady source
of employment-ready workers.
Building
a relationship with Superbolt has meant that over
the years NCC has provided not only entry-level
workers, but also has offered advanced training
to some Superbolt employees. Indeed their relationship
has been so successful that 15 NCC graduates have
been hired by Superbolt and 59 incumbent workers
have received NCC training.
That
track record prompts Myers to comment: "At
the time, and even today, they (NCC) were
very valuable to us. … It was like
a godsend to us. And actually a lot of (their
trainees) have turned out to be some of
my better employees."
"…
a lot of (their trainees) have
turned out to be some of my better
employees."
Below,
Myers reflects on the characteristics and benefits
of the Superbolt-NCC relationship.
The company’s
challenge:
"At the time when this all started, we were
in growth mode. And we were having trouble acquiring
more workforce. So it did have a definite correlation
to our bottom line."
How sectoral training
benefits the company:
"I’ve got a level of competency coming
out of their program, and every time I hire somebody
from their program, I’ve not been let down."
Characteristics
that distinguish sector-trained employees:
"They seem to be a little more motivated.
If you take into consideration the fact that prior
to the program they had no machine background
or even shop background, and you put them side-by-side
with a kid out of high school … they seem:
a) to have more motivation – they want to
be here, they are concerned about doing a good
job and, b) they seem to just pick up things a
little bit faster also."
About
New Century Careers: NCC is a nonprofit
organization that seeks to deliver a capable workforce
to regional employers in the manufacturing industry.
At the same time, NCC strives to improve the lives
of individuals through the development of skills
that lead to good quality, family-wage jobs and
careers. NCC offers both entry-level and incumbent
worker training programs, both of which combine
classroom, on-line and on-the-job training. NCC
also manages the Pittsburgh chapter of the National
Tooling and Machining Association’s Machinist
Training Apprenticeship Program.
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