Advanced Manufacturing Learning Community
Notes from Meeting on February 28, 2008
A task force was convened to bring together leaders from the three manufacturing RSA’s in the MMIT region, the Advanced Manufacturing Learning Community, DLEG and a representative from the CLEG Advanced Manufacturing Committee to discuss the committees recommendations to the Governor and align the efforts of these organizations around one of the 5 recommendations.
The following individuals were present:
Dan Luria – MMTC
Kristan Dzciack – CAR
Bob Sheerer – Capital Area MiWorks!
Derrick Adams - CLEG
Janice Cooper - DLEG
Matt Shields - DLEG
Erin Riske – DLEG/RSA
Bob Schooks - SVSU
Lisa Katz - CSW
Kathy Conklin – Advanced Manufacturing Learning Community
Steve Bennett – MMIT/PCF
Bryan Bruchhof – Saginaw-Bay-Midland MiWorks!
David Veitengruber – Saganaw-Bay-Midland MiWorks!
Tom Crampton – Mott CC
Jody Kerbyson – Thumb area MiWorks!
Cassie Alley – Advanced Manufacturing Learning Community
Derrick Adams, CLEG Industry Sector Committee Chair, spoke about the five CLEG Advanced Manufacturing Committee recommendations to the Governor. Identified for this meeting were activities in the region that might be complementary to the particular recommendations. With the assistance of CSW facilitator Lisa Katz, the group was tasked with evaluating the importance of each of the five recommendations and rating identified activities the group may be able to undertake or leverage to help implement the agreed upon priorities.
1. Package and direct incumbent worker training funds toward advanced manufacturing;
o Challenge private industry to use their training dollars to fill the gaps where public funds cannot be used
o Challenge Michigan Works! agencies to target their Incumbent Worker Training dollars toward upgrading manufacturing workers skills, especially in companies bringing in new technology
o Identify public funds available for training and restrictions on those funds
2. Make assessment and development of soft skills a priority in the state’s education and workforce development systems:
o Assess current soft skill programs offered through the Michigan Works! Agencies, community based organizations and education providers
o Research best practices throughout the country
o Support the efforts behind establishing career readiness credentials
o Re-define soft skills as a portion of educational attainment
o Develop soft skill continuum to create workforce ready attitudes, behaviors and skills
3. Launch an effort to re-invigorate apprenticeship programs in Michigan:
o Identify companies willing to sponsor apprenticeship programs
o Get existing employers involved in creating apprenticeship programs in non-traditional occupations
o Identify and target state and federal resources to help employers utilize apprenticeship programs
o Identify existing apprenticeship programs
4. Develop a marketing/communications plan to bring a positive focus to advanced manufacturing:
o Instill lifelong learning as a concept in incumbent and dislocated workers
o Demonstrate to students/parents the difference between today’s advanced manufacturing jobs and the traditional manufacturing jobs of the past
o Demonstrate to students/parents that there are viable careers in advanced manufacturing and that jobs exist in Michigan
o Work with the media to put a positive spin on advanced manufacturing opportunities in Michigan
o Reinforce the value of community college and apprenticeship training verses a four year degree
o Capitalize on the marketing efforts that are already underway at Detroit Renaissance
5. Address future workforce gaps in high skills manufacturing jobs:
o Re-evaluate the continuing education that teachers receive
o Assist high school counselors/advisors in steering students toward high tech/high skill jobs in manufacturing
o Develop the capacity to teach more/higher level math and science
The group agreed that developing a marketing/communications plan to bring a positive focus to advanced manufacturing was an actionable goal that this group could pursue. In addition to the tasks listed under number 4 above, the group identified the following as important components of a marketing strategy to educate our young people on careers in advanced manufacturing:
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Promote the importance of quality internship programs as critical for educating our young people and retaining them for careers in Michigan.
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Career Presentations in schools and anywhere else that exposure is allowed to educate our young people on how these careers have changed through the years and the advanced knowledge and skill sets required for these careers.
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Promote our college programs such as Kettering which is a premier college known worldwide for preparing the automotive workforce.
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Inventory our regions marketing assets for careers in advanced manufacturing. Good examples are a program started by Blue Sky via PBS currently being produced in Michigan on the types of career opportunities in Michigan. It is available for classroom use and may be broken up to be presented in the classroom over a period of time. A local program called “Brains and Braids” which is being used in the GISD is for parents and students which feature workers from different industries and is aimed toward girls so they can learn about careers other than cosmetology. There is a parallel program for parent’s that educates them on support issues such as currPrent technology use and paying for college.
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Promote the use of Career ladders which are necessary to clearly articulate paths to better wages beyond the $14.00 per hour beginning wage of future employees in the automotive industry. Michigan has always been higher than the national average for wages and is currently in the process of coming down to that average.
There has been continued discussion on the struggle to define advanced manufacturing. The generally accepted definition the CLEG committee has accepted is: The incorporation of new technology, improved processes, or management methods in manufacturing products through the systematic application of scientific and technical knowledge.
This group agreed that there is a need to transform the image of the industry to create an interest among young people and their parents. A culture change is needed to bring a about a positive image for careers in advanced manufacturing. With the right skill sets our young people can find well paid and fulfilling careers in the advanced manufacturing industry.
A high quality marketing plan for careers in advanced manufacturing is critical in fighting a powerful message in our society that manufacturing careers don’t exist in Michigan and opportunity has dried up, leading our young people to flee Michigan. Consensus in the room was that we need to build a plan to link our resources together statewide in order to have a coordinated distribution of the message.
Leveraging our assets statewide will provide the best opportunity for creating a marketing strategy. Our next meeting will include representatives from manufacturing RSA’s across the state. The hope is to utilize the DLEG marketing department knowledge and possibly their resources to steer this group toward a strategic plan for this career marketing initiative.
Kristen Dziczek gave an overview of the CAR Report including the current state of wages of automotive workers and Michigan’s ability to be competitive in the world economy. If taken advantage of, this report can assist in making this industry competitive. The infrastructure for training has been dormant in Michigan for about 20 years. CAR’s goal is to bring the employers and education provider’s work together to educate workers as needed by the industry. A program for automotive and labor training education is being created to prepare the workforce, including engineers for new technology in the automotive industry. CAR would like to partner with others in advanced manufacturing to create a network to bring this message forward.
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