AREA INDUSTRIAL TRAINING GROUP EXHIBITS EQUIPMENT

More than 100 workers are enrolled in various classes with the Southeast Missouri Regional Industrial Training Group.

The training group, comprised of 11 manufacturing and industrial employers who work together with Southeast Missouri State University, Mineral Area Community College of Park Hills and the Cape Girardeau Vocational-Technical School, displayed new training equipment during a special luncheon meeting Thursday.

The new training equipment, said Pat Hagan, director of the employer group, allows instructors to simulate a number of activities necessary in various manufacturing operations.

The new trainer can be used to illustrate equipment effectiveness, maintenance, and troubleshooting skills.

Representatives of employers involved in the group, school officials and community leaders attended the luncheon, including John Mehner, president and CEO of the Cape Girardeau Chamber of Commerce; Mitch Robinson, executive director of the Cape Girardeau Area Industrial Recruitment Association; and Ron Swift of the Private Industry Council.

Training is available in a number of areas. Twenty-six workers are currently involved in supervisory training. A total of 115 workers are involved in training in such areas as mechanical basic skills, electronics basics, mechanical math, and electrical-electronic math.

"We do need some additional materials to go along with the training equipment," said Hagan. "This includes a magnetic starter, various switches, a couple of electrical motors, a small air-compressor, chain puller, ball bearings and other items."

A wish list has been compiled, said Hagan.

The regional group represents a pool of more than 4,000 trainees who have been or will be in the process of being better-trained for their positions.

Mehner, Robinson and Swift agree that the training program is needed.

"This is a great program," said Mehner. "It trains employees for their jobs and helps keep existing industries going. That's one of our top priorities."

Member companies include some of the area's largest employers, including Procter & Gamble Paper Products, Lone Star Industries, Dana Corp., M&W Packaging and Lee-Rowan Co.

Other members in the group include K&K Electric, Gregory Construction, Golden Cat, Biokyowa, SEMO Carpenters Union and Foamex.