Working smarter

Companies pay to broaden workers' abilities

Southeast Missouri Industrial Training Group members

Allen Wire, Sikeston, Mo.

Biokyowa Inc., Cape Girardeau

Bloomsdale Excavating Co., Cape Girardeau

Ceramo, Jackson, Mo.

Carpenters District Council of Greater St. Louis and Vicinity, including Cape Girardeau

Dana Corp., Cape Girardeau

Nestle Purina Pet Care, Cape Girardeau

Foamex, Cape Girardeau

Gregory Construction, Jackson

K and K Electric, Cape Girardeau

Lone Star Industries, Cape Girardeau

Nordenia USA, Cape Girardeau

Procter & Gamble Paper Products, Cape Girardeau.

Rubbermaid Closet and Organization Products, Jackson, Mo.

S&W Cabinets, Chaffee, Mo.

The Meat Shop, Cape Girardeau

By B. Ray Owen ~ Southeast Missourian

Mike Gramlisch has enjoyed his job as a machine operator at Dana Corp. But he knew he'd like working as a machine maintenance worker even more.

He's close to reaching his goal through a program that is reaching out to make area laborers more versatile.

"It's been a long three years, but it's been worth it," said Gramlisch, who is in the final nine weeks of a three-year electronics maintenance curriculum.

The program is part of the Southeast Missouri Industrial Training Group, a project designed to provide more skilled workers in the immediate Cape Girardeau, Jackson and Scott City area. More than 60 workers are currently in employee-training programs designed to enhance their technical, mechanical and electronics skills.

Sixteen area companies have become part of the program, which started in 1995.

"This is a win-win situation, both for employees and employers," said Larry Ream of Lone Star Industries, which uses the program extensively. Ream recently became chairman of the training group.

The group, which represents more than 5,000 employees, includes several of the area's key industries -- Procter & Gamble, Dana, Rubbermaid Closet and Organization Products.

"More than 1,000 employees have participated in the program since it was implemented," said Harold Tilley, director of the Cape Girardeau Career and Technology Center where the program takes place. "The program offers an opportunity for people to work with professional technicians from other companies, and has resulted in a curriculum that meets a lot of adult training needs."

The group has focused on mechanical and electronics training, using training machines to address additional industrial needs.

The program's trainers, who typically come from one of the 16 companies involved, work as instructors on a part-time basis.

"It's a great program for us," said Larry Koehler of Dana Corp. "Before the program started, it was really tough to find a good maintenance training program. We send a lot of our maintenance people to classes."

Each company belonging to the training group pays a fee, which starts at $750 and increases depending on the number of employees involved. The group functions as a not-for-profit organization.

rowen@semissourian.com

335-6611, extension 133