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Capital Area Manufacturing Council (CAMC). A Regional Skill Alliance (RSA) focused on manufacturing Robert C. Sherer Executive Director. Summary of Presentation. Background/History of RSA Key Activities of the Council Lessons Learned Successes. Background.
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Capital Area Manufacturing Council (CAMC) A Regional Skill Alliance (RSA) focused on manufacturing Robert C. Sherer Executive Director
Summary of Presentation • Background/History of RSA • Key Activities of the Council • Lessons Learned • Successes
Background • Interest in a manufacturing networking group coalesced in spring of 2004 • MMA, Michigan Works!, Community College and Chamber of Commerce in the lead • Earlier efforts not sustained • Chamber of Commerce and others • By-laws of the Capital Area Manufacturing Council adopted in spring of 2004 • 15-20 partners/companies active at various levels • Applied for RSA grant funding in initial round of grants • RSA started October 2004 - $88,000 one-year grant
Manufacturing in the Capital Area • 21,000 jobs • 6,000 at GM • Another 6,000 approximately in auto-related suppliers • 400 companies in manufacturing • Employment peaked in 1979 at 44,000 jobs • GM at 20,000 jobs • Manufacturing 25% of jobs in 1970; now less than 10% • Broke a 10-year employment slide in manufacturing in 2006 with a modest employment gain
Initial Activities of the RSAGrant Application • Foster networking • Promote M-TEC • Address foundation skills concerns • Develop a web site to support the RSA
Major Activities • Membership Meetings • Electronic networking • Special Topic Seminars • Wage/Compensation Survey • Training Grants • Plant Tours • Iron Horse Rodeo • Special offers such as free back safety programs and discount pricing for training at LCC
Operations • Housed at Capital Area Michigan Works! • Explored 501(c)3 • Functions like a trade association and networking organization • Use M-TEC facilities as much as possible • Meetings • Tours • Slate of Officers • Executive Board
Electronic Networking I • Peer-to-Peer Consulting/Advice • Best software to integrate time-keeping and job costing • Tornado evacuation plans • How best to communicate with onsite contractors in an emergency • Anyone use online employee performance appraisal systems? • How do you compensate on-call maintenance mechanics • I need a metallurgist
Electronic Networking II • Business Opportunities • Company needs 6,000 pieces of titanium milled monthly • MSU engineering professor needs fabrication work for patent pending device – Thermal Transient Anemometer • City of Lansing contacted by Korean company wanting a manufacturing partner in the local area • Ann Arbor-based medical instruments manufacturer needs “special” injection-molded part ** Also, involve manufacturers with other activities in the region
Ongoing Support of RSA • Supported by dues, donations and in-kind support from partners and members • Raising about $60,000 - 65,000 a year • Supports about a .75 FTE operation • About 70 companies are members • Michigan Works and Lansing Community College provide additional support • Need to reach $80,000 a year
Training Grants • WIA Incumbent Worker Funds • Several unsuccessful grant applications • EDJT, President’s High-Growth Job Training Initiative, Community-Based Job Training Initiative
Incumbent Worker Training • Training and WorkKeys Support for Manufacturing RSA • About $100,000 - $150,000 available a year for manufacturing • Trained 1500 employees (thru 6/30/07) • Profiled 16 positions in 12 companies (first two years) • Assessed 700 + jobseekers (first two years)
Lessons Learned • Workforce development as sole focus not enough to sustain RSA/group • Networking activities stronger than anticipated • Depth, scope, quality surprising • Basic skills more difficult to address than anticipated despite concerns about them • Reached plateau on membership quickly • Contact lists / e-mail lists a constant challenge • Fund-raising a full-time job • Focused on membership for primary revenue so far
Successes • Scope and depth of networking surprising • Challenge to conduct at the proper level • Number of WorkKeys job profiles and assessments • Training through Incumbent Worker Grants • Indentify / Address CNC/welder skill shortages • Engage manufactures with M-TEC • Involve manufacturers in community • Have a local organization that speaks for manufacturers
Contact Information Robert C. Sherer, Executive Director Capital Area Manufacturing Council 2110 S. Cedar Street Lansing, MI 48910 517-492-5588 517-487-0113 (fax) bsherer@camw.net www.camconline.org