Tri-County
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LEAN MANUFACTURING

The Tri-County 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 Tri-County 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 Tri-County 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 Tri-County WDC looks forward to the “next-steps” in meeting Yakima, Kittitas, and Klickitat County manufacturing company needs.

Results, so far