AN INDUSTRIAL PARTNERSHIP

Steve Puchbauer watched instructor Bob Stovall adjust the hoses on the hydraulic simulator on the second-to-last day of the class sponsored by the Vo-tech Consortium. Although hydraulics are used for a various purposes in manufacturing, all systems are built on the basic model the students are learning from.

Chris Johnston attached one of many hoses onto the hydraulic simulator during vo-tech training offered by the Training Consortium, a group of several big manufacturers operating in Southeast Missouri. Johnston, who has made a living owning and operating restaurants, said he was taking the class because he was looking for a career change, and it offered him the chance to find out what companies are looking for in potential hires.

The Southeast Missouri Regional Industrial Training Group, a unique partnership between industry and education providers, is providing an industry driven work force with quality training and education.

"Industries developed the curriculum for this program," said Bev Hickam, adult education supervisor at the Cape Girardeau Career and Technology Center and facilitator of the of the industrial training project. "This is a program that provides qualified workers for many area industries. Members of present work forces are prime targets for additional training, and many new work force graduates of the program will have jobs waiting when they complete the course."

A case in point is a nine-week Industrial Basic Technical Skills course currently being conducted at Town Plaza in Cape Girardeau. Participants of the course have already applied for jobs with area industries and will probably join the work force when they finish the course.

The Southeast Missouri Regional Industrial Group has been a very successful program, said Hickam, and it continues to grow.

More than 150 workers are in employee-training programs to enhance their technical, mechanical, electrical and electronic skills. Between 400 and 500 workers have completed various training programs.

Employers throughout the area are involved in the employee-training program to provide their own skilled labor force, said Pat Hagan, chairman of the training group and head of training at Dana Corp. "It's making a visible difference for a lot of companies," she said.

"Employees have become more productive," added Hagan, "The training is extensive and it helps keep people growing all the time."

The program was founded about five years ago with a dozen employers in the Cape Girardeau area, working together with the Mineral Area College, Southeast Missouri State University and the Cape Girardeau Career and Technology Center (formerly Cape Girardeau Vo-Tech). Associate members include the Cape Girardeau Chamber of Commerce and the Cape Girardeau Area Recruitment Association.

Today, 16 employers in the Cape Girardeau area are involved in the training group, representing more than 5,000 employees, say Hagan and Hickam.

Employers include some of the area's largest -- Procter & Gamble, with over 1,700 employees; LeeRowan Company, with more than 900 employees; and a number of employees with 200 to 400 employees.

Others on the list: BioKyowa Inc., Dana Corp., Golden Cat, Foamex, Gregory Construction, K&K Electric, Lone Star Industries, M&W Packaging, Carpenters District Council of Greater St. Louis and Vicinity (including Cape Girardeau), S & W cabinets, The Meat Shop, Bloomsdale Excavating Co. Inc., Alan Wire and Ceramo.

AmerenUE is also involved in the program.

Hagan said, "We have the curriculum. We have the training facilities and equipment to provide training in a number of areas."

The group has focused on mechanical and electronics training and has developed a curriculum and obtained training machines to address the area's needs.

During a recent ceremony, the program graduated 10 students in mechanical training, 12 in electronics. One student obtained an associate of applied science degree, which is now available in the program. In an earlier ceremony, a dozen graduates received certificates in mechanical training and six received certificates in electronics.

"These certificates are recognized by all the companies," Hickam said.

Training equipment is in a couple of classrooms in Town Plaza Shopping Center.

The equipment allows instructors to simulate a number of activities necessary in various manufacturing operations, said Hagan. The trainers can be used to illustrate equipment effectiveness, maintenance and trouble-shooting skills.

The large training equipment includes a hydraulic training simulator, a mechanical trainer and an electrical-mechanical trainer that simulates a production line.

The training equipment also includes magnetic starters, various switches, a couple of electrical motors, a small air compressor, chain puller, ball bearings and other items.

"This is a great program," said John Mehner, Cape Girardeau Chamber of Commerce president and chief executive officer. "It provides training for employees for their jobs and helps keep existing industries going. That's one of our top priorities."

The program offers an opportunity for people to work with professional technicians from other companies.

Initial funding for the group came from a grant, requested by the MAC Customized Training Department. The grant funding was secured through Customized Training at the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education.

Each company that belongs pays a fee, depending on the amount of employees. The group was organized as a not-for-profit organization and involves the use of training facilities at the Career and Technology Center.

About 80 percent of the classes are conducted at the Plaza Shopping Center classrooms.

The program started with three companies. Within two years, it was up to a dozen.

Industries have found that the training is more cost-effective when groups area trained to together, as opposed to individual training.

"The program has been well-received," said Harold Tilley, director of the Career and Technology center.

"The program brings industries together," Hickam said. "And the employees have accepted it. They're donating a lot of their free time to study in order to improve their skills."