Pharmaceutical and Medical Packaging News
Magazine
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Originally Published June 1999
Our View
Education Key to Industry Success
How do companies prosper? By investing in talented people.
Who creates cutting-edge technologies, who helps your company develop new products and services, who manages your plant operations and makes them run smoothly and efficiently?
People, that's who.
Workforce development has become one of the critical factors for succeeding in today's fast-paced, competitive environment.
There are several workforce development issues facing the packaging industry. The 1999 Packaging Productivity Trends Indicator survey, produced by the Packaging Machinery Manufacturers Institute (PMMI; Arlington, VA), provides a solid overview of these issues.
Results from the survey reveal that 65% of the respondents feel that the increased automation in their packaging lines requires higher education levels in their employees than in the past. However, less than 40% reported that they provide basic skills development programs, such as literacy, math, or reading, to employees. Of those whose companies offer such programs, the top skills development class offered is computer basics, followed by math and literacy.
Glen Long, chairman, education committee, Packaging Machinery Manufacturers Institute.
Respondents did not always make the connection that their companies can provide the education that their employees need. It's important to realize that not everyone in the workforce has a college degree or a high school diploma.
Offering ways for line employees to educate themselves not only helps the company gain more qualified workers, but also helps the industry remain competitive. Eight out of 10 survey respondents offer some sort of skill enhancement or professional development program. Programs range from safety (78%), leadership (78%), and team building (71%) to sales (19%), drug and alcohol awareness (44%), and total quality management (48%). Companies often use such programs to retain good employees, and these companies should be recognized for their efforts.
Ensuring a continuous supply of qualified, well-trained workers for the next century is a significant challenge for the manufacturing sector and the packaging community. Attracting, training, and retaining a qualified technical workforce should be the long-term goal of every company.
It can be tough to attract engineers to the packaging industry. The glamorous world of high-tech software pulls engineers away from the more traditional manufacturing sectors. Many engineers have outdated concepts of manufacturring and often don't see the exciting, cutting-edge opportunities that our industries offer. The perception is that computer engineering–oriented industries have more opportunities than the packaging industry.
In an effort to address the many workforce development issues facing companies today, PMMI's Education & Training Foundation is sponsoring the 1999 Education Leadership Summit, June 89, 1999, at the Radisson Hotel O'Hare in Chicago.
Our goal is to build cooperation and communication between industry and all levels of the education community. There are many successful education partnership models in the manufacturing and packaging sectors. The purpose of the summit is to build on these successes and to harness the resources of the packaging community to better meet future workforce challenges.
Small work-group sessions and general plenary sessions will enable participants to discuss industry challenges and identify potential solutions. Collectively we hope to develop a successful strategy to address our needs.
We welcome your input in this process.
For more information on PMMI's programs and services, go to http://www.packexpo.com or contact them at pmmi@pmmi.org or at 703/243-8555.
