Material Handling Specialists Talk Skills to Schools

To combat the shortage of skilled engineers and manufacturing workers, companies are offering their funding, facilities and employees to introduce students from kindergarten to college to various behaviors and skills that are highly valued by employers. The following are some of the latest initiatives:

• Intelligrated is hosting a tour of its St. Louis robotics lab for Washington University engineering students in recognition of National Robotics Week. The 5,050-square-foot research and development lab focuses on conceptualizing and applying robotic innovations. Students will also participate in a series of demonstrations and a Q&A session.

“As our company grows, so does the demand for robotics engineers," said Steve Ackerman, executive vice president, Intelligrated. "For that reason we appreciate the mission of National Robotics Week and we plan to continue to open our facilities for educational purposes."

For more information, contact Emily Smith, Intelligrated’s senior marketing coordinator, at (513) 881-5239 or by email at [email protected].

•Dayton Progress Corporation, headquartered in Dayton, Ohio, is sponsoring a "manufacturing challenge" competition to promote awareness of careers in industrial manufacturing to Dayton area high schools. The Dayton Progress Manufacturing Challenge includes a prize package valued at over $40,000 which will be awarded to the school with the most effective and creative program for promoting awareness of career opportunities in manufacturing. The prizes include:

--Three new computers with monitors, capacity and accessories suited for Computer Aided Design (CAD).
--Licenses for the latest CAD software, based on state-of-the-art CAD technology used today in industry.
--The cost of training a faculty member in the use of the CAD systems.
--Five $1,000 scholarshipsto Sinclair Community College's STEP II Program in skilled manufacturing. Dayton Progress and the school will jointly select the recipients against set criteria.

In addition to the Manufacturing Challenge prize, four paid after-school internships will be offered to qualified senior year students from among the top three school districts participating in the contest. Each of the internships is expected to lead to full-time employment upon graduation. The interns will be trained for a manufacturing career by Dayton Progress.

For more information contact Rosemary Domansky, VP, Human Resources at (937) 859-5111, or via e-mail to [email protected].

•The Raymond Corporation has teamed up with local organizations to host a Best Practices for Business seminar for businesses in Broome, Chenango, Delaware and Otsego counties of New York State. Through collaboration with the New York State Department of Labor, Chenango County Job Service Employer Committee (JSEC), Commerce Chenango, Chenango-Delaware-Otsego (CDO) Workforce and Morrisville State College Norwich Campus, businesses were invited to attend a free seminar at Raymond’s headquarters to learn more about best business practices and services.

Speakers from the New York State Department of Labor — such as Nicole Burns, supervising labor services representative for the Unemployment Insurance Division, and Robert Crounse, human resources consultant for the Division of Employment and Workforce Solutions — covered layoff alternatives, on-the-job training, recruitment and other areas related to education and business development.

In the fall of 2012, Raymond plans to host a second Best Practices for Business seminar. For more information contact The Raymond Corporation (http://www.raymondcorp.com) at 800-235-7200.

• Five Mitsubishi Caterpillar Forklift America Inc. (MCFA) employees recently presented a lecture on understanding, managing and resolving conflict to more than 250 students at Harmony Science Academy in Katy, Texas.

The presentation was part of the school’s College Readiness and Leadership Program, which is made up of more than 400 students ranging from kindergarten through 8^th grade and is meant to increase interest in science and math so that more U.S. students will consider a career in engineering.

The MCFA employees drew from their real-world experiences to teach students various aspects of conflict management, including different approaches and resolution techniques. Interactive activities involving conflict management case studies were presented to provide a comprehensive understanding of the topic. For more information visit http://www.mcfa.com.

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