Job-Training Grant Helps Two Wichita Falls Manufacturing Companies
By: Lindsey Wopschall
Updated: December 1, 2012
Technology is always moving us forward but without the right training we could be left behind.
And that's why two Wichita Falls manufacturing companies are partnering with Vernon College to provide job training for their employees.
Together Tranter, Pratt & Whitney and Vernon College applied for a more than 400 thousand dollar skills development fund grant from the Texas Workforce Commission.
And now company officials are hopeful that their businesses will soon run with greater efficiency.
Manually turning wheels using knobs
That's how employees at Tranter used to manufacture machine parts.
And thanks to modern technology they're now using computers.
And all they have to do is press some buttons.
"New technologies are evolving every day within manufacturing plants so in order for our manufacturing companies to become competitive not only locally but regionally and globally those manufacturing technologies have to increase as well," said Shana Munson, the Vernon College Associate Dean of Career and Technical Education.
And as the manufacturing technologies change employee's skill sets do too.
Which is why Tranter and Pratt & Whitney partnered with Vernon College.
They applied for a skills development fund grant through the Texas Workforce Commission providing more than 400 thousand dollars to train about 350 new and current workers.
And those new skills acquired ultimately means better business.
"To improve our efficiencies, improve our quality, and again to serve our world wide customers with Tranter products," said Tranter Vice President Scott Poenitzsch.
He says the new skills employees learn allow for the company to stay competitive in a global market.
Training sessions started back in July and will run for a full year.
Each training varies in length and degree, depending on each employees job.
One of those training sessions was on the total productive maintenance.
Teaching the workers how to use and maintain their new CNC Vertical machining center.
And the result?
A list of instructions with checklist and times to make sure they keep the assets running.
Poenitzch says it's a win- win for them and the community.
They invest in their employees growing their business, ultimately building Wichita Falls economy.
This is the first time Tranter has received the grant.
But the grant has been around since 1996, and since then it's created or "upgraded" more than 250 thousand jobs.
