Maryland Manufacturing Extension Partnership Proves Manufacturing Bootcamp Program Successful With Pilot Program

MARYLAND MANUFACTURING EXTENSION PARTNERSHIP PROVES MANUFACTURING BOOTCAMP PROGRAM SUCCESSFUL WITH PILOT PROGRAM

Three-Day Bootcamp Provides Training for Manufacturing Employees to Help Increase and Improve Employability, Skills and Work Ethic

Columbia, Md. – The Maryland Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MD MEP), a nonprofit organization dedicated to advancing manufacturing in the State of Maryland, today announced that the organization has successfully facilitated an abbreviated pilot of their Manufacturing Bootcamp which will be available statewide this summer. MD MEP’s Manufacturing Bootcamp will be an intensive six-week program that will focus on taking potential unemployed and under-employed candidates and provide them with a mix of life, basic job and basic manufacturing skills necessary to increase their employability and prepare them for jobs in the manufacturing industry.

MD MEP rolled out their pilot program in partnership with Garrett College for Garrett Container Systems, Inc., a company that manufactures specialized aluminum shipping and storage containers in western Maryland. Participants engaged in a 3-day program focused on developing a baseline set of skills that would improve performance and increase their ability to immediately contribute to operations. Topics covered during the program included: Garret Container Systems employability, on-site experience at Garrett Containers Systems, basic manufacturing and math skills, leadership training and team building. As a result of the program, 10 people were hired and trained by Garrett Container Systems and will be able to contribute to their team immediately.

“We are honored to have partnered with Garrett College to help develop and put on this three-day Maryland Manufacturing Bootcamp for Garrett Container employees,” said Mike Kelleher, Maryland MEP Chief Operating Officer. “By creating this program, we are able to provide Maryland unemployed and under-employed candidates with a perfect mix of necessary skills to help increase their employability and prepare them for jobs in the manufacturing industry, as well as provide employers with the opportunity to hire well-trained candidates that are deemed to be successful in the workplace.”

MD MEP created the Manufacturing Bootcamp after being awarded a planning grant under the Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation’s Employment Advancement Right Now (EARN) program, a national effort to involve employers in developing a skilled workforce and providing targeted education to Maryland workers. The Manufacturing Bootcamp will be an intensive six-week program focused on increasing the employability and skills of potential workers statewide. The program will involve a baseline skills assessment and teach candidates basic entry level skills including, but not limited to; work ethic, job readiness, professionalism, problem solving, basic math and English, communication and basic manufacturing skills. Employers will then have the opportunity to hire employees who have the necessary entry-level skills to succeed in their industry.

“This project serves as a model for successful collaboration between industry, employer, and education,“ said Julie Yoder, Dean of Continuing Education & Workforce Development at Garrett College. “We look forward to continued partnership with MEP to provide training programs which meet, and exceed, the needs of our local employers. Additionally, Garrett Container Systems, Inc. is a great example of a company which recognizes, and values, the importance of a trained workforce.”

“The pilot program exceeded my expectations, and the material and instruction were exceptional,” said Elizabeth Morin, Vice President of Administration at Garrett Container Systems, Inc. “Our employees were privileged to participate in this program that will be a valuable resource for Maryland manufacturers.”

Through collaborative efforts and strategic partnerships like the one with Garrett College and Garrett Container, MD MEP strives to strengthen the quality of the workforce in the state, improve upon the skills and expertise of candidates in the manufacturing industry, and contribute to the economic growth of the State of Maryland.

About Maryland Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MD MEP):

The MD Manufacturing Partnership is a collaborative partnership of RMI-MWCC and MD MEP focused on make manufacturing a growing and profitable industry in the State of Maryland by providing resources and services to manufacturers statewide. Through collaborative efforts and strategic partnerships, MD MEP helps its clients expand their business, educate their workforce, and create mutually beneficial connections with other Maryland businesses. For more information, please visit www.mdmep.org.

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