November 17, 2005 - Harris Ranch Inn, Coalinga

Economic Development Summit:  Focus on Food Manufacturing

“Industry perspective is crucial if community colleges are to successfully train California’s workforce.”                                                     2005 Summit Participant 

Industry perspective was the focus for the Central Region’s third annual Economic Development Summit, held November 17, 2005 at Harris Ranch in Coalinga.  The focus for Summit III was on the food manufacturing industry.  Representatives from Frito-Lay, Inc., Hormel Foods, Los Gatos Tomato, Leprino Foods, Inc., Signature Fruit Company, Harris Woolf Almonds, and Paramount Farms, Inc., identified specific training and skill gaps for their business and offered concrete ideas for how the community colleges can be responsive to their workforce needs.

In the months ahead, the 52 community college Summit III participants will pursue action plans developed during the Summit.  For many, this means working one-on-one to build the industry/community college relationship.  It means taking action to bring about specific changes to improve the workforce in the Central Region.

This chart summarizes needs identified by food manufacturing industry representatives:

DEMAND FOR TRAINED WORKERS EXISTS IN THE FOLLOWING AREAS:

Maintenance Mechanics

Electricians

Machine Operators

SKILLS NEEDED / GAPS:

 

English

Communication

Basic Math

Critical Thinking

PLC

Problem Solving

SPC

Interpersonal

HVAC

Team Building

Computer Applications

Interviewing

Welding

WHAT COMMUNITY COLLEGES CAN DO FOR INDUSTRY:

Co-Ops

Paid Internships

Job Shadowing

Faculty Internships

Non-traditional schedules

Be responsive

Flexible

Larry Dutto, Dean of Academic Services/Vocational Education at College of the Sequoias and Russ Poe, President of Sequoia Valley Products, shared an innovative partnership model that resulted in the development of the California Dairy Products Training Institute on the College of the Sequoias campus.

Community college participants work in teams following lunch to develop action plans to respond to industry needs.

Representatives from the Fresno City College Center for Applied Competitive Technologies (CACT) and The Training Institute work with Susan Scaffidi, Workplace LRC Director from Bakersfield College, to develop a strategic response to industry. 

The Reedley College team works with Catherine Swenson, Statewide EWD Program Initiative Director for Contract Education, and Jeanette Benson, Director of the Center for International Trade Development at Merced College, to develop an action plan for meeting food manufacturing workforce needs.  Before leaving the Summit, Reedley College manufacturing instructors and Dean of Instruction, Kimberly Perry, discussed the development of a 3-year plan to utilize existing facilities.

Hormel Foods and San Joaquin Delta College take ACTION!    John Milburn, Director of the Center of Excellence at Bakersfield College, facilitates discussion between Bill Harr of Hormel Foods and Hazel Hill, Dean of Economic and Workforce Development at San Joaquin Delta College. 

Sheila Herb from the Center for International Trade Development facilitates discussion with participants from Merced College and Modesto Junior College following the industry panel presentation. All representatives agreed to more in-depth contact and assessments with industry.  Modesto Junior College representatives expressed hope to design and develop a co-op program with Frito-Lay, Inc.

Learn More!  Visit these Food Manufacturing Industry Web Sites!

Frito-Lay, Inc. :  http://www.fritolay.com/

Hormel Foods :  http://www.hormel.com/home.asp

Leprino Foods, Inc. :  http://www.leprinofoods.com/

Los Gatos Tomato :  http://www.losgatostomato.com/

Paramount Farms :  http://www.paramountfarms.com/

WORK GROUP NOTES:  Following the industry panel presentation, community college participants met in groups to document WHAT WE HAVE and WHAT WE NEED to respond to industry workforce needs.  Action Plans and Next Steps identified by each group are noted.

GROUP #1:  John Milburn, Facilitator

Participants:  Hazel Hill, Henry Yong, Frank Abbott, Bill Harr

What we already have:

Maintenance Mechanic training including

  • Fundamental skills, including Life Management
  • Updated curriculum
  • 5-6 industry leaders establish skill set, continuous monitoring for (triangle)

Partner with FMC (CC’s)

What we need:

Methods of teaching with work ethic

Fusing academics, occupational, and workplace training

Clear understanding of work ethic (by all parties)

Realistic view of working in industry (drug screening, hours w/e etc)

Assessments to better place students

  • Skill match/occupational match
  • Aptitude/curiosity

Clearly defined occupations

Expose students to occupations (starting in grade school)

Reconcile Union shops and programs with combined position (maintenance + welder + mechanic) get union to accept this

Need strategy for working with all employers, including Union shops, family owned companies, corporations, etc.

Marketing what Community Colleges can do (block scheduling, weekend programs, fast delivery), not what they have been doing.

Industry partnerships:

  • Calif Proc. Insti (CPI)
  • FMC Food mach. / Dairy incl.
  • Merit shop
  • CA Dept. of Corrections (CDC) – welding, PLR, machining
  • Inmate Ed program students
  • Food Maint. Mech Certificate
  • Individual Courses brought all together w/ course to finish it.

Model:

  • Certificate for Welding, hydraulics
  • Work ethic threaded through all courses
  • Basic interviewing skills
  • Interpersonal skills
  • Life long learning: get the education, get a job, get more education, get a promotion - - - continue the education and obtain degrees (AA/AS, BA/BS Degree etc).
  • Partnerships with industry regarding funding, equipment and curriculum development.

Access (flex)

Direct application

Idea:   Industry can promote our services and use them (contract ed)

Union employees – does not transfer well to non-union management.   Disconnect from union to management.  Career Ladder stops.  Why?  Attitude/culture differences.

Industry needs career ladders: promoted and advertised - advancement

ACTION PLAN

TIMELINE

PERSON RESPONSIBLE

Bill Harr (Hormel Foods) will work with Hazel Hill and the Stockton Manufacturers Industry Round Table Assoc.

Feb. 2006

Hazel Hill

Bill Harr

Will ask the 4 or 5 companies to work with them to design the curriculum – courses (What specific training is needed?)

March 2006

Hazel Hill

Bill Harr

Package the training in as many ways as business/industry need it.

May 2006

Hazel Hill

Bill Harr

Offer the training at the college and a the business/industry sites

June 2006

Hazel Hill

Bill Harr

Share the training package with others I Region 5

July 2006

Hazel Hill

Bill Harr

 

 

 

NEXT STEPS:

Type and distribute notes

Ask 5-6 industry folks to get specific/detailed about needs.

Tie shop type classes together

Partnership:  college, industry and equipment manufacturing

Need leader:  Chambers, industry, equipment manufacturers

Quick action and results

Our administrators (President, etc.) to understand and support these partnerships and agreements.

WORK GROUP #2:  Jeanette Benson, Facilitator

REEDLEY COLLEGE TEAM: Jim Chin, Robert Fransen, Katy Miller, Kimberly Perry, Tim Smith, David Tikkanen

What REEDLEY COLLEGE already has:

Water cluster

Agile Manufacturing

Food processing

What REEDLEY COLLEGE needs:

Go back and look at course outlines to ensure they reflect the identified needs from today’s discussion of needs expressed by industry panelists.

Facilitate the industry and secondary education connection (career pathways)

Grow RJI involvement

Additional resources

ACTION PLAN

TIMELINE

Partner with regional EWD program CACT

 

MOU for equipment with regional CACT

December 2005

Manufacturing instructors will develop a 3-year plan to utilize existing facilities

Spring 2006

NEXT STEPS FOR REEDLEY COLLEGE:

Follow-up with Manjitt regarding 3 industry groups / forming 1 consolidated workgroup with like skill sets

MOU with CACT to utilize CACT resources  (Contact:  Kimberly Perry)

WORK GROUP #3:  Susan Scaffidi, Facilitator

Participants from Fresno City College (Charles Francis, Ken Olson, Roger Tischner, Rob Weill, Debbie Viotho), Teresa Parkison

What we already have:

Maintenance Mechanic:   9 month @ 900 hours contract ed program with open entry/open exit (starts every Monday), 26 person capacity, daytime from 8 am – 2 pm

Welding, machining, electric, some pumps, job search – mechanical, vibration (incorporate trouble shooting)

  • 6 month – 1 year wait list
  • students pay for books
  • Fee reimbursement at contract ed rate

Fee based:  basic industrial electricity

Industrial Motor control

Level II – Motor control and drivers

PLC – Level I – Control Logix 5000—spelling correct; it’s a brand name

PLC – Level II – Control Logix 5000

PLC Network Control Class – ’06 project

Range of fees = $350-$750 / 24 hours/class / 2 nights per week @ 3 hours each

IDRC – 168 hours – basic entry-level skills for maintenance tech

  • Workforce ethics
  • Reading/math (industrial)
  • Computer (use, search skills)
  •  
 

Plumbing and HVAC (same skills as other prepare you for automation)

Job readiness, resume building, interviewing, employer networking

Completers receive a set of tools and a shirt for interviewing

12-14 weeks / 14 hours/wk (four days, no Fridays) from 3-6:30 pm and 3:30 – 7 p.m.

Grant ends June 2007 / trying to refer to WIB $$$

Contract Training, on site – all areas – customized schedules

Web-based learning system – Maintenance tech with skills validation lab (w/ instructor) – same topics, except PLC - $1,195 per year – self-paced except for lab—PLC refers to Programmable Logic Control

Regularly scheduled, for credit:

  • all subject areas
  • mostly day
  • semester schedule

What we need:

Pneumatics and hydraulics (fluid power) – expand

More vibration analysis – expand

Interpersonal skills component – link

More work environment/industry exposure, e.g., data acquisition – expand

Turbine maintenance – add

Steam generation – add

Heat transfer – add

Packaging and filling systems – link foundation courses

Diesel engine maintenance – borrow

Conveyor systems – add

Forklift maintenance – expand

Forklift operation

Basic food science/sanitation – add/borrow

OSHA Compliance – link (make explicit)

Basic Hazmat Referrals

Electricians – what already available subset of maintenance technician

Machine Operations:  need package parts of maintenance tech training at basic level

SPC – workplace applications

ACTION PLAN

TIMELINE

PERSON RESPONSIBLE

Get admin/Board interested (champion cause!)

ongoing

Ken Olson

Curriculum Search and acquisition

Link to $$$ search

Charles Francis

Review market analysis to establish priorities

January 31, 2006

Charles Francis

Build links with high schools.  Explore tech prep.

 

Ken and Felix

Promote/Implement Curriculum

 

 

Identify other $$$ for start-up projects

ongoing

 

WORK GROUP # 4:  Sheila Herb, Facilitator

Representatives from Merced College and Modesto Junior College:  Jann Helfer, Autumn Saucedo, Robert Vincelette, Pedro Mendez, Paul Vantress.  Venture College Reps:  Sharon Dwyer, Luann Swanberg

What we already have:

Modesto:  all programs credit.  4 months, 8 months, and 2 years.  Meeting some retraining/promotional needs.  Soft skills

Merced:  Auto mechanic certificate program

PLC

What we need:

Modesto:

  • HVAC
  • Structured co-op
  • Young, new student interest
  • Pipeline issues
  • Keeping pace-tech
  • Integration:  academic and hands-on
  • Flexible training:  Modesto based, short workshops, open entry/open exit
  • Fee based classes based on fill rates
  • Integrate assessment tool in regular program
  • Distance learning similations
  • Faculty job shadowings and industry – classroom
  • Speedier delivery service (identify members)
  • Know your markets
  • More Summit – Industry opportunities
  • Survey companies, students for more rounded services
  • Share with industries

ACTION PLAN

TIMELINE

PERSON RESPONSIBLE

Follow-up with Frito-Lay regarding co-ops

November 22, 2005

Pedro Mendez, Modesto

Adopt WorkKeys into guidance class. 

Spring 2006

Modesto

Track programs and look for needs

 

Modesto

Design and develop co-op program

 

Modesto

Take to curriculum

 

Modesto

More in-depth initial contact

January 1, 2006

Merced

More in-depth assessments (business/industry)

January 1, 2006

 

WORK GROUP ACTIVITY UPDATE

as reported to Central Region during March 16, 2006 meeting of the Central Region Consortium.  Three reports follow.  (Pedro Mendez, Richard Larsen, Ken Olson)

REPORT 1:  Modesto Junior College, Pedro Mendez, Director of Technical Education

1) We met with Frito-Lay and have submitted a proposed outline for a Co-Op; however, there really was not local interest. The members we met with are looking for journey level folks and not trainees. Frito-Lay suggested working with industrial vendors for co-ops versus industrial processing facilities. Colleges may have more opportunities for students here. However, at this point Frito-Lay has a proposed concept paper from Modesto Junior College.

2) Work Keys. We have yet to integrate the assessment tool into our course programs because we have not determined how to finance the cost of Work Keys for our students. As a community, the Manufacturers of the Central Valley, The Alliance and Modesto Junior College are still flushing out specifics that provide a strong vote of confidence in moving in this direction.

REPORT 2:  Reedley College, Richard Larsen, Associate Dean

A new Maintenance Mechanic Program is in the final stages of planning at Reedley College.   This program will be jointly offered at the Dinuba Vocational Center and on the Reedley campus with a start Fall 2006.  This program is the result of the November 17, 2005 Focus on Food Manufacturing Summit held at the Harris Ranch Inn.  The food manufacturing industry indicates that one of their biggest problems is to find qualified maintenance mechanics for their plants.  This program will replace the non-credit CACT training that is now finishing up.  The new Reedley College certificate is a 16-semester unit program intended to serve incumbent workers as well as new students interested in gaining the skills to work in the local industry.  This program is the result of a partnership developed among CACT, The City of Dinuba and Reedley College.  The partners share shop facilities and equipment.  The plan is to offer electrical, hydraulic, and blueprint reading at the Dinuba Vocational Center, with welding and machining offered on the Reedley Campus. 

REPORT 3:  Fresno City College, Ken Olson, Director, CACT

Facilitator: Susan Scaffidi

Members: Charles Francis, Ken Olson, Roger Tischner, Rob Weil, Debbie Viotho, and Teresa Parkinson

Logistics Program:    Fresno City College-Career and Technology Center currently offers a Warehouse Technician program that includes a Logistics and Distribution course. The instructor recently attended a one- day workshop to learn about new technologies to expand the program into areas of management, warehousing and distribution, transportation, information technology, import, export, and related fields. This information will be used to expand the current program so that it may be offered as a full credit program.   Vibration Analysis: A hands-on working demonstration machine has been built to give students a hands-on experience in shaft alignment and vibration analysis. This exercise has been incorporated in to the 900-hour Maintenance Mechanic program. Additional machines are currently being constructed to expand the hands-on experience for the students.   Pneumatics and Hydraulics: Package machines recently donated by SWF Industries of Reedley, California are currently being used to expand the hands-on training being provided in the Maintenance Mechanic program. This equipment is being modified by the students to perform an expanded training exercise.

HERE'S WHAT PARTICIPANTS HAD TO SAY ABOUT SUMMIT III:

QUESTION:

Did this Economic Development Summit meet your expectations for attendance?

All responded YES to this question.

RESPONSES:

Concrete ideas for progress

Answered questions I might have had – brought forth the needs that exist.

Good response from industry

Good insights from panelists

The panel was excellent; they identified specific skill sets necessary for their particul