Date:
2/18/2009
Title:
Building a Skilled Workforce in Advanced Manufacturing
Smart Solutions Group is assisting Opportunity2, an Iowa eight-county economic development organization, in the development of a project to up-skill the region’s workforce in Advanced Manufacturing. The major components of this project are:
1. Resource Mapping – Analyze demographic and workforce information and review available workforce studies (Laborshed, Needs Assessment, etc.)
2. Educational Alignment – Review current degree, certificate, and diploma programs at post-secondary institutions in the region for careers in Advanced Manufacturing, and identify potential new programs that are needed
3. Skills Benchmarking – Measure the skills of a sample of the region’s Advanced Manufacturing workforce using the skills assessments in the Iowa Career Readiness Certificate program and compare results against the skills needed by the industry
4. “Best Practices” Survey – Identify successful Advanced Manufacturing workforce development programs in other regions
5. Focus Groups - Conduct group discussions with business executives/mangers and educators to gain a deeper understanding of the challenges facing the industry and identify potential solutions.
6. Implementation Plan - Develop a plan to enhance the skills of the region’s workforce that includes measurable goals, workforce development programs, communications plan, responsibilities, and timetables.
The Implementation Phase will include marketing programs such as:
- Develop a marketing piece for business recruitment of Advanced Manufacturing companies that details the region’s assets - available skilled labor, post-secondary degree and certificate programs, job training programs, and major employers
- Create a career planning piece that will interest students and young adults in careers in Advanced Manufacturing
A key implementation component will be to gain the commitment of the region’s businesses community to support the effort to up-skill the workforce in Advanced Manufacturing, as well as all the other industries.