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Precision Plus Welcomes Three New Members to the Team

Michael Reader

Welcome to Lucy Mulderink, Melinda Jaworski and Dawn Tibbitts to the Precision Plus Team in Elkhorn, Wisconsin.

Lucy joined our team in May. In her position as a Setup/Repair Machinist, she is responsible for the setup, process validation of programs and repair on the Miyano platform.

Both Melinda and Dawn joined us this week. Their training will begin in the classroom, where Barry Butters, Director of Education and Training will bring them up to speed with the Precision Plus Operation.

After the initial training in the classroom, Melisa will begin her training on the Tornos platform with Matt Fryar.  Melinda Jaworski resides with her family in Delavan.  She comes with some machining experience from MicroPrecision and Bliss Machining.

Dawn Tibbitts also resides in Delavan with her family. She comes with some CAM experience from Iseli and Medplast.  Once she completes her in class training, Dawn will begin her training on the Tornos platform with Curt Hibl on second shift.

Glad to have you on the Precision Plus Team!

Precision Plus Inc. Supporting the CNC Boot Camp at the iMET Center in Sturtevant, Wisconsin

Michael Reader

The CNC Boot Camp is an innovative, fast-paced, hands-on program to learn the essentials of Computer Numerical Control (CNC) operations. Gateway Technical College, in partnership with the Workforce Development Centers offers this training as a certificate program. Satisfactory completion of Boot Camp courses earn college credit toward a diploma or degree. The Boot Camp is a 14-week program that requires attending class 8-hours a day, 5 days a week.

Image Courtesy of Gateway College

On April 2, 2014, Barry Butters, Director of Education and Training at Precision Plus was invited to make a presentation to the current class on a typical day for CNC machinists at Precision Plus Butters used a PowerPoint about the company and demonstrated the software essential to the programing of the CNC machines. The presentation also included an explanation of the soft skills employers are looking for and the benefit package available at Precision Plus Butters will also participate in a mock interview exercise with the students so that they know generally what to expect on real interviews. “We are excited to support any efforts to help feed the pipeline of machinists,” said Butters.

100% funding is available for qualified Boot Camp participants through the generous support of SC Johnson & Sons, A Family Company.

President Barack Obama Cites Wisconsin’s Efforts to Bring Manufacturing Jobs Back to the U.S. as a Model for the Rest of the Nation

Michael Reader

On January 30, 2014, President Barack Obama visited the GE-Energy Waukesha Gas Engines plant to celebrate the inroads made by Wisconsin manufacturing companies in designing and implementing training programs aimed to fill vast vacancies for highly skilled jobs.

GE-Energy Waukesha Gas Engines’ employee Reggie Troop, who introduced the President, represents the essence of the success of this program.  Once unemployed, Troop received training from the Wisconsin Regional Training Partnership (WRTP)/BIG-STEP, an organization which is “industry-led, worker-centered and community-focused.”  Their mission is “to enhance the ability of private sector organizations to recruit and develop a more diverse, qualified workforce in construction, manufacturing and emerging sectors of the regional economy.”

In a speech before hundreds of employees of the GE-Energy Plant, some of whom have gone through the training programs, President Obama laid out a multi-part plan to address filling jobs in manufacturing through training, and signed an executive order appointing Vice President Joe Biden to lead a review of worker training programs across all states.  Obama said, “The country can take a page from the Badger State’s book,” to show the Nation how worker training is essential for creating and filling more jobs. “It includes creating more manufacturing jobs, training more Americans with the skills to fill those jobs, and making sure the hard work pays off with good wages,” the President added.

Brian White, President of GE-Energy Waukesha Gas Engines and his team, have relentlessly worked to reverse the skills gap and create jobs.  In September of 2012, the company announced the hiring of 115 employees.  Brian’s career in manufacturing started in a shop, as an apprentice.  He was featured in a video by Dream It! Do It! Wisconsin titled “Upward Bound – Wisconsin Manufacturing Careers,”  which documented his journey.

In a January 31, 2014 article by Alison Bauter of the Milwaukee Business Journal, White was quoted referring to the working training at GE, “phenomenal.” “You’ve never seen that level of excitement before,” Brian White added, “ It’s like, ‘Oh, this is great! Finally, manufacturing is back alive in America. We’re not outsourcing jobs, we’re growing the businesses, bringing jobs in and training people.’”

Brian White will be part  of the Second Manufacturing Career Panel at Elkhart Area High School to be held on Wednesday, February 26, 2014.  Other panelists include Mary Isbister of GenMet (who was a VIP guest for the President’s visit), Hanan Fishman of PartMaker, and Mike Reader of Precision Plus

Speaking of the impending review of worker training programs across the U.S., Mike Reader added, “Any program that has been in existence for a number of years, may need a major overhaul. I can speak for all manufacturers when I say that we would be happy to have a seat at the table.  Talking about it is the easy part, implementing the right changes to drive success will take leadership and tenacity.  We would be happy to share ideas on a path forward.”

Walworth County, WI and Gateway Technical College: Light Years Ahead in Addressing Impending U.S. Manufacturing Needs

Michael Reader

Recently, we received this invitation from Debbie Davidson, Vice President, Workforce & Economic Development Division at Gateway College:

“Dear Walworth County Manufacturer,

Due to the increased need for skilled manufacturing employees, Gateway Technical College, Walworth County Job Center and the Walworth County Economic Development Alliance (WCEDA), invite you to attend a planning meeting on July 26th at Gateway’s Elkhorn Campus (400 County Road H, Elkhorn, WI, South Building, Room 112) from 7:30am to 9:00am.

At this meeting we will discuss a variety of options to provide you with skilled technicians including:

  • Developing curriculum to meet your needs;
  • Offering  training at the Elkhorn Campus and/or at your facility;
  • Modifying and/or developing   boot camps in manufacturing-related skills;
  • Implementing an “Earn-and-Learn” model which would allow students to work for you while attending classes providing an opportunity for on-the-job  skill application;
  • Scheduling classes such as, Applied Math, Blueprint Reading, Safety, Gauging and Inspection, Measurement, Communication, Lean Six Sigma Yellow Belt and more;
  • Identifying funding models to support new and unique training models.

Please join us and be part of the conversation. The meeting is free. However, we ask that you make a reservation for our planning purposes. Please contact Debbie Davidson at 262-564-3422 or email davidsond@gtc.edu no later than July 20, 2012 to reserve your spot. We look forward to working with you to meet your hiring needs.  If you are unable to attend, please consider sending a designee from your company. Feel free to share this invite with others throughout Walworth County.

Debbie Davidson
Vice President, Workforce & Economic Development Division

Gateway Technical College

3520-30th Avenue
Kenosha, WI  53144
Office: 262-564-3422
Cell: 262-914-0154
Email: davidsond@gtc.edu

We’re planning to be there.  Are you?