The South Central Workforce Development Council (WDC) has embarked on an incumbent worker training program with manufacturing companies in our three-county region (Kittitas, Yakima, Klickitat). This project came about as a direct result of an earlier Skills Panel Project where local manufacturers in three sectors, i.e., woods, metals, plastics, identified skill-training needs.
A partnership between the Yakima County Development Association (EDC) and the South Central Workforce Development Council (WDC) initiated this incumbent worker training concept. Together they have connected with manufacturing sectors throughout the region.
A one-day seminar on the “Principles of Lean Manufacturing” was planned initially, but class registration filled immediately, and two additional sessions were subsequently scheduled. The first seminar was conducted this past week with sixteen (16) employees representing six (6) companies. The next two sessions involve thirteen additional companies sending a combined total of thirty-two (32) employees. As well, three WDC One-Stop Centers are enrolling representatives in order to learn the “language of lean”.
With the seminar paid by the South Central WDC, participating employers provide match dollars by paying employee wages and benefits during the eight-hour training. The training includes a live assembly-plant simulation (Buzz Electronics). The workshop is designed to help companies understand how Lean Manufacturing philosophy and techniques can be applied to maximize customer value, minimize waste, and reduce costs. It represents a philosophy of Continuous Quality Improvement.
The South Central WDC looks forward to the “next-steps” in meeting Yakima, Kittitas, and Klickitat County manufacturing company needs.
Results, so far
| DATE | TRAINED | TUITION* | MATCH* | COMPANIES |
| 11/14/02 | 16 | $4885 | $5226 | 6 |
| 12/6/02 | 15 | $4186 | $4635 | 4 |
| 1/14/03 | 18 | $5040 | $5551 | 6 |
| 3/11/03 | 13 | $3887 | $5011 | 5 |
| 3/12/03 | 17 | $4760 | $5314 | 5 |
| 4/14-18/03 | 12 | $3,000 | $12,741 | 1 |
| TOTALS | 91 | $25,367 | $39,899 | 27 |
* Tuition is paid by the WDC; Employers match that by paying wages and benefits for participants while they attend the seminar.
| Match Contributors: | Participating
Companies Yakima County Development Association Sunnyside, Inc. Greater Yakima Chamber of Commerce Red Lion of Yakima |
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| Companies Participating: (22) | Trail Wagons Bunzl Olympic Fruit Irwin Research Best Built Windows Yakima Pre-Cast Manhasset Specialty Co. Yakima Specialties Del Monte Am Tech Corp. Yakima Quality Moulding |
Steelco Fabricators RE Powell Johnson Concentrates Truss Systems Valley Truck Repair Farwest Fabricators, Inc. Printing Press, Inc. Hobart Manufacturing Custom Interface, Inc. Treetop, Inc. Yakima Precision Wood Products, Inc |