[share] A “ready” workforce is critical for business and industry to remain competitive and thrive in the global marketplace. That’s why Quincy and Adams County, Illinois, have taken significant steps to invest in the region’s workforce for today and for the future.
Adams County Works
Career Guidance – Prepare youth to enter the workforce.
Work Readiness – Connect the willing to work.
Transition Planning – Advance current workers.
These are the 3 focus areas of Adams County WORKS, a concentrated and strategic workforce development effort that began in 2013. Representatives from business, education, social services and economic development are identifying and overcoming barriers to employment to meet your future workforce needs.
On November 4, 2014, the citizens of Quincy passed a historic $89 million dollar referendum to build 5 new elementary schools, build an addition to Quincy Senior High School and make technology improvements throughout the district. A strong school system is essential to a thriving community and its ability to produce tomorrow’s workforce.
In the words of Qui ncy inventor Parker Gates, “Let’s provide the slap on the back, the encouragement, the education, the money, and prove to our young people that our faith in them is not just their tomorrow… but Quincy’s tomorrow, too.”
The Quincy Promise is a four-year pilot program led by the City of Quincy to promote career, technical, health and workforce education for graduates of Quincy’s high schools beginning in the 2015/2016 academic year.
It will provide two years of FREE tuition for students who pursue specific programs at John Wood Community College that lead to careers that are in high demand by employers in the area. The program is funded privately by local industries that realize the critical need for a future workforce.
The QU Trust scholarship program gives high schools students an opportunity to start earning micro-scholarships for their academic progress and educational accomplishments throughout high school, starting as early as ninth grade.
Thanks to a partnership with raise.me, students can earn up to $40,000 in scholarships for a broad range of achievements each semester, such as improving their GPA, serving in their community or taking a leadership role.
John Wood Workforce Development Center
4220 Kochs Lane * Quincy, IL 62305
Competition is no longer between companies; it’s between supply chains. Our volatile economy means that manufacturers have to be much more agile, flexible, and responsive to external pressures. This overview demonstrates the benefits and the approach of the Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP) Supply Chain Optimization program that helps reduce risk, increase visibility and builds stronger manufacturers.
OBJECTIVES OF THE PROGRAM
Demonstrate the enemies of supply chain effectiveness including, destabilizing effects of dependency, variation, lack of supply chain visibility and forecast inaccuracy.
Provide an understanding of MEPs Supply Chain Optimization process.
Introduction to a roadmap intended to guide companies towards improved collaboration and supply chain integration.
THIS WORKING SESSION IS COMPRISED OF THE FOLLOWING KEY EDUCATIONAL ITEMS
Examine the strategic implications of a poorly functioning supply chain
Contrast (or compare) the attributes of supply chain development vs optimization
Overview of supply chain fundamentals
Introduction to application of Constraint Theory to supply chains
Interactive simulation demonstrating the Bullwhip Effect on supply chains
Introduction to the MEP Supply Chain Optimization methodology and roadmap
Discussion of supply chain successes and lessons learned
WHO SHOULD ATTEND
This half-day event is intended for manufacturers interested in learning how to create a stronger base of manufacturing through Supply Chain Optimization.
WHAT WILL YOU GAIN
After this half-day session you will understand the advantages of incorporating a strategic approach to supply chain management, and how it can positively impact local and state communities, as well as to create national economic value through increased competitiveness.
Manufacturing Day is a coordinated occasion during which U.S. manufacturers open their doors to demonstrate the potential of modern manufacturing and foster interest in manufacturing careers. Held annually on the first Friday of October (October 3, 2014), Manufacturing Day was created to correct public perception, which doesn’t do manufacturing justice.
Manufacturing environments, which include highly trained, well-paid employees who work on state-of-the-art equipment, are commonly thought of as antiquated factories designed for low-skilled workers. Manufacturing Day addresses this misperception by giving all manufacturers an opportunity to open their doors and show, in a coordinated effort, exactly what manufacturing is – and what it isn’t.
This change in perception is the first step in addressing one of the main challenges faced by manufacturers today – a gap in skilled labor. Manufacturing Day is an opportunity to connect directly with job seekers and students to begin to address the skilled labor shortage.
National Manufacturing Day in Quincy
Greg Miller, Vice President, Quality Assurance, The Knapheide Manufacturing Company, speaks at the 2014 National Manufacturing Day Press Conference in Quincy on October 1, 2014.
John Wood Community College will host a Manufacturing Expo Friday, October 3 at the College’s Workforce Development Center, located at 4220 Kochs Lane in Quincy. The public is invited to attend from 12 to 3 p.m. free of charge.
More than 17 percent of Adams County employees are in the manufacturing sector, which is full of head-of-household careers for individuals with the right skills.
During the expo, participants will learn about the new technology used in the manufacturing industry through demonstrations and interactive displays. Robots, 3D printers, virtual welding, computer numeric control machines and state-of-the art electrical technology will be featured inside the JWCC Workforce Development Center.
JWCC instructors will demonstrate how a product is taken from concept and computer animation to its 3D prototype and production using new equipment used by regional employers.
Representatives from Midwest Patterns, Gardner Denver, Doyle Manufacturing, Kohl Wholesale, Trinity Containers, Dot Food, Michelmann Steel, MSC Industrial Supply Co., and Manchester Tank will showcase products and models during the expo. Dependable Education Products Company (DEPCO) will offer interactive demonstrations in Motor Controls, engineering, industrial electronics, advanced manufacturing and robotics. The expo will also feature Lincoln Electric’s virtual welder simulator.
Earlier in the day, more than 300 area high school students will visit the expo as part of a regional manufacturing career exploration effort. Students will visit the JWCC Workforce Development Center and tour ten manufacturing sites arranged by the Great River Economic Development Foundation. Students from QHS, Camp Point Central, Liberty, QND, Southeastern, Unity, Pittsfield in Illinois and, Highland in Missouri will tour regional manufacturing companies including Craig Industries, Manchester Tank, Knapheide, Prince Agri Products, ADM, Awerkamp Machinery, GatesAir, Hollister Whitney, Quincy Metal Fabricators, and Gardner Denver.
Information about JWCC career and technical programs, as well as admissions and financial aid will also be available.
The event is a collaborative effort among JWCC, GREDF, Workforce Investment Board of Western Illinois and the West Central Education Regional Education for Employment System #240.
The Quincy Entrepreneurship Center at GREDF, in collaboration with several Quincy area organizations, is hosting an informational event for current and aspiring entrepreneurs on Saturday, August 9th. The 2nd Annual Entrepreneurship Expo will take place in the Quincy Mall Community Room from 9:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m. The Expo is free and open to the public.
Click to enlarge.
“We wanted to provide a one-stop learning experience for entrepreneurs at any stage of the process,” said Kimm Minnick, property manager for the Quincy Mall. “We worked with our partners to create an action-packed agenda that includes presentations and time for one-on-one interactions and specific questions.”
The day will begin with a Small Business Development Center presentation outlining the steps to starting a business – including the importance of a business plan and cash management.
Lunch will be provided by the Quincy Mall immediately following the QACC announcement. Participants will have an opportunity to network and ask questions during this time. Stations will be set up for specific topics in the areas of financing a small business, marketing and sales, legal and tax issues, and human resources.
According to Charles Bell, director of the Quincy Entrepreneurship Center, planning the event has been a group effort. “When we initiated the event last year we wanted to get a number of organizations involved so current and prospective small business owners would have access to a wide network of local resources in one place,” Bell said. “It was so well received we decided to improve the event and hold it a second year.”
In addition to the presentations and small group discussions, packets of information will be available outlining where to go for further assistance, as well as information about local training opportunities and schedules of upcoming entrepreneurship events.
There is no cost to attend, and no RSVP is required. Questions may be directed to Charles Bell at GREDF – 217.223.4313 or charlesb@gredf.org, or any of the participating organizations.
JWCC to Offer Free Manufacturing Training
August 13, 2013
FREE 16-Week Training Session Starts August 26
[share]John Wood Community College will offer a free 16-week manufacturing training starting August 26 at its Workforce Development Center at 4220 Kochs Lane in Quincy.
The training is focused on helping participants gain qualifications for entry level manufacturing jobs, which are in high demand regionally.
The program will provide an overview of the machining and manufacturing process from start to finish. Students will be introduced to a variety of skills in the planning, machining and finishing of metal products and develop skills in the use of hand tools, drill press, band saw, engine lathe, vertical milling machine and related equipment.
Individuals can complete GED requirements while in training and females are encouraged to apply.
The free program is funded by a grant JWCC received from the United States Department of Labor to help produce qualified, skilled employees for manufacturing positions.
More information is available by contacting JWCC at 217- 641-4941 or by visiting www.manufacturingourfuture.org. Interested individuals may also visit JWCC’s Career Readiness Center to learn more and apply.
REGION CHARTERS COURSE TO TRAIN STUDENTS FOR ADVANCED MANUFACTURING CAREERS
November 1, 2012
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Pathways to Results Process Connects Education and Business Resources; $500,000 Grant Boosts Effort
The new world of advanced manufacturing requires a drastically different set of skills from its workforce. On October 25, 2012, private business, education and economic development leaders signed a charter to formalize the “Pathways to Results” process. The process aligns K-12 coursework with college degrees and business resources to give students the new skills needed to ensure family-sustaining careers in our region’s manufacturing sector.
The signing is the latest step in a concentrated effort to change the perception of manufacturing and build the workforce of tomorrow. The charter collectively commits business and K-college entities to clearly define a path for manufacturing careers while boosting resources, equipment and expertise available for students to attain careers in the high-tech industry.
Defining the Path
High school students have clearly defined pathways leading to four-year college degrees. Therefore, parents and the community have an expectation that their high school students will pursue a four-year degree even though many college students have no real idea what career they might pursue upon graduation.
Manufacturing jobs do not currently have a defined educational pathway, which is an even bigger obstacle for parents and counselors trying to guide students into these high demand jobs.
Pathways to Results seek to insert a systematic process for communication with high schools including pathways, preparation, transition and curriculum alignment to make things clearer for students and their advocates.
“It is hard enough for students to know which career path to choose,” Pam Foust, dean of career and technical education at JWCC said. “When they determine a focus, possibly in high school, they might find that they haven’t taken the courses to enter college ready to master evolving skills employers want. What Pathways to Results does is to clearly define the math, science and critical thinking skills that need to be in courses from kindergarten through high school. With these basic skills, any evolving manufacturing technology can be learned from college instructors who will have access to the latest equipment and processes.”
Funding the Process
JWCC received a $10,000 grant from Office of Community College Research and Leadership as part of the state’s effort to improve career pathways. The College and its partners intentionally linked Pathways to Results funding with a federal grant in an effort to grow a skilled workforce to fulfill current and future manufacturing industry needs.
Phil Conover, interim president of the Great River Economic Development Foundation, announced that as a result of collaborative partnerships, John Wood Community College received a $525,769 grant from the Trade Adjustment Assistance – Illinois Network for Advanced Manufacturing Grant (TAA-INAM). JWCC is one of 20 Illinois community colleges that received funding from the Department of Labor.
“Because of the partnerships built over the last several years, this funding uniquely positions the region to prepare future technicians, engineers and managers as our manufacturing industry expands,” Conover said. “This process, when integrated, is a tremendous platform to attract new manufacturers to the region because we will have the skilled workforce they require to be successful.”
The half million dollar grant will be received over a three-year period to expand and improve the delivery of career manufacturing training programs. The training will lead to industry-recognized certificates or associate degrees that can be completed in two-years or less to meet regional employer needs.
Funding will provide for equipment, course development, advising, instructional support, software, program coordination, internship mentoring, tutoring and supplies. The grant will also fund the hiring of personnel to help students transition from high school to college and college to careers.
In addition to state and federal funding, Lauren Kiest, an owner in aNH3, a company that supplies products for the agricultural industry, recently created a private manufacturing scholarship with the JWCC Foundation to help students access funds to receive the new skills training needed for today’s industry.
Current Climate
Manufacturing accounts for 17 percent of this region’s economy, yet few students are transitioning from high school to John Wood Community College’s manufacturing program. JWCC is the only area institution to offer specific degrees and certificates leading to careers the industry demands. Currently four JWCC students have declared advanced manufacturing as their major. Twenty-six JWCC students are pursuing welding certificates or degrees; 12 are pursuing a degree in computer-aided design (CAD); and 39 students have declared their intent to earn a degree or certificate in electrical technology.
At the high school level, Quincy Area Vocational Center (QAVTC) has a total of 35 students in day technical programs including CAD/drafting, electronics, precision metals and welding. Twenty students from rural schools are enrolled in QAVTC’s evening programs. An additional 80 students are enrolled in Project Lead the Way at QAVTC.
Adams County Board Chairman Mike McLaughlin, JWCC President Dr. John Letts, Quincy Mayor John Spring and Interim GREDF President Phil Conover at October 5, 2012, National Manufacturing Day Press Conference
Workforce shortages are growing in areas such as industrial maintenance, (programming and maintaining technologically advanced equipment), precision machining, welders and automation systems. The current high school and college students studying for these careers will not come close to filling current and future positions available with the area’s 100 manufacturing firms.
“Manufacturing is a whole new world,” Roger Leenerts, business owner and Pathways to Results charter member said. “For many years it has not been suggested as an ideal career path, that it is low paying, dirty and unstable. The reality is that it requires a highly skilled workforce to maintain high tech machinery. We want high school students to see manufacturing as a career, not just a job.”
Not Your Dad’s Plant – Perception Change Manufacturing has been the economic engine of the region for decades, but gone are the days of man-made assembly lines with workers assembling various product parts. The industry is rapidly evolving, with clean work environments and head-of-household wages waiting for employees with the right skills.
Students with manufacturing degrees can earn upwards of $60,000 because they possess the knowledge and skills to manage all or portions of automated processes from design, logistics and production. Candidates with specialized knowledge of electrical and computerized components of automated machines can earn between $35,000 and $50,000. Welders are in high demand and can earn $20 an hour with basic knowledge and much more with additional training. Most manufacturing jobs include solid benefits.
More information is available by contacting Foust at 217.641.4956 or pfoust@jwcc.edu.
Career Guidance – Prepare youth to enter the workforce.
On November 4, 2014, the citizens of Quincy passed a historic $89 million dollar referendum to build 5 new elementary schools, build an addition to Quincy Senior High School and make technology improvements throughout the district. A strong school system is essential to a thriving community and its ability to produce tomorrow’s workforce.
The Quincy Promise is a four-year pilot program led by the City of Quincy to promote career, technical, health and workforce education for graduates of Quincy’s high schools 
workforce.
The QU Trust scholarship program gives high schools students an opportunity to start earning micro-scholarships for their academic progress and educational accomplishments throughout high school, starting as early as ninth grade.
Competition is no longer between companies; it’s between supply chains. Our volatile economy means that manufacturers have to be much more agile, flexible, and responsive to external pressures. This overview demonstrates the benefits and the approach of the Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP) Supply Chain Optimization program that helps reduce risk, increase visibility and builds stronger manufacturers.
What is National Manufacturing Day?
