Combining the Training and Testing Needs of Industries with the Same Basic Need

RCCI Institute

August 3, 2004

Dr. H. James Owen, President Piedmont Community College

Merrill Wilcox, Vista Volunteer Piedmont Community College

Lee Proctor, Director, Research and Inst. Effectiveness Piedmont Community College

(336) 599-1181

Person Automotive Cluster Training

(PACT)

History

Local industries approached the College for assistance with training needs. The College’s grant writer researched available grants sources to support the training. The Golden Leaf Foundation (North Carolina’s Tobacco Settlement Money, had a Jobs Development program option that directly related to job retention in tobacco-dependent and economically affected counties. The proposal had to fit into one of four areas and the College submitted an Industry Cluster Training Grant designed to support cooperative efforts between business leaders and training providers to organize programs that address the development of transferable skills related to regional industry sectors. Awards were linked to a proposal’s ability to address skill requirements of an industry sector that would lead to direct employment opportunities.

The College has four industries within its service area that manufacture automotive related parts:

  • GKN Driveline – front-wheel assemblies
  • Eaton – air valves and lash adjustors
  • Collins and Aikman – automotive textiles
  • Strutmasters – suspension conversion kits

When approached, each of these four industries had similar training needs and wished to participate in the project. The Golden Leaf Foundation funded the (PACT) Person Automotive Cluster Training Program for $100,000 for 18 months – from December 1, 2003 – May 31, 2005.

PACT Program Goals and Objectives

Positively impact retaining and expansion of employment opportunities within Person County’s Automotive Cluster.

  • Retain at least 1,982 jobs
  • Create at least 25 employee positions
  • Involve at least 400 people in training
  • Maintain at least a 95% employer satisfaction rating
  • Conduct Bi-Monthly PACT Advisory Board Meetings

Grant Covers

  • Leadership Development
  • Programmable Logic Controllers
  • Fluid Power Maintenance Hydraulics
  • WorkKeys Job Profiling
  • WorkKeys Assessments
  • KeyTrain
  • Customer Service

Cost includes: Registration/Tuition, Student textbooks, Contract/Consultants, WorkKeys/KeyTrain Assessment fees, Instructional Materials

Training Benefits

The training initiatives provide employees or potential employees with skills and abilities to enable them to be more productive at work. Improved employee productivity will translate to increased productivity of the cluster industries. Training received by employees are transferable to other industries.

PACT Program’s Benefits

  • Increase training opportunities for PACT members
  • Increase employment opportunities
  • Increased likelihood of PACT industries being retained
  • Coordinated delivery of training for PACT members that has not been locally available otherwise in the past
  • Increased coordination between industrial community, Economic Development and the College in meeting the current and future needs of area industries
  • Ability to meet on a routine basis to delineate actual and future training needs and to prioritize those needs.

WorkKeys and Keytrain

Piedmont Community College originally purchased the KeyTrain software in the subject areas of “Reading for Information,” “Applied Mathematics,” and “Writing” to assess Teacher Assistants who were trying to test out of the requirements for the federal legislation of “No Child Left Behind.” Area public school administrators preferred for the teacher assistants to be assessed prior to enrolling in the KeyTrain laboratory set up to help prepare the teacher assistants for the assessments. A number of the teacher assistants test out of the training requirement, however those that did not were reluctant to enroll in the KeyTrain labs. Therefore, the College did not feel the KeyTrain was effectively utilized for the teacher assistants. The experience gained from this activity, led the College staff to an understanding of how KeyTrain and WorkKeys could be used for improving the preparation level of the local workforce.

The College received several grants to use WorkKeys and KeyTrain to help dislocated workers improve their skill-sets and return to work. In addition the College has used WorkKeys and KeyTrain with high school students, Food Stamp Employment and Training Program participants, and other groups.

The College helped the areas largest employer to write and receive a Workforce Investment Act Incumbent Worker Grant to provide training for 250+ of their employees for:

  • Conduct WorkKey Job Profiles
  • Conduct WorkKeys Assessments of many of their employees
  • To pay for College registration fees for KeyTrain classes to remedy gaps in preparation levels
  • To pay for other College and vendor training to retain employees and make them more productive

Piedmont Community College KeyTrain Internet Access

The College has purchased KeyTrain Internet access under the College’s site license. This expands student’s options of using the computer at work, home, library, or any computer that has Internet Access and meets the system requirements. The following units of instruction are available through the Internet to employees of PACT members who enroll in the College’s programs;

  • Applied Mathematics
  • Applied Technology
  • Listening
  • Locating Information
  • Observation
  • Reading for Information
  • Teamwork Writing
  • Business Writing

The College offers orientation sessions at industries for employees who want to use the KeyTrain Internet option. Employees are given a contact person in case of questions or problems with the system. The College is committed to respond to student questions within one business day. The College tracks student attendance and subject area test scores. The registration fee for participation in the KeyTrain lab is $60 per student and gives students unlimited access to KeyTrain for 21-weeks. After 21-weeks, the student must re-register if they require additional access to training. The Golden Leaf and Incumbent Worker grant funds can be used to pay the registration fees for participating company employees.

PACT Activities Completed by May 5th

  • Three Leadership Development Training Classes for 74 people
  • Three WorkKey Job Profiles for Three Different Industries
  • WorkKeys Assessments for 66 people from two industries in the following areas:

Applied Mathematics

Applied Technology

Locating Information

Reading for Information

1