Issue link: https://nebusinessmedia.uberflip.com/i/1034678
3 6 S T U F F • F a l l 2 0 1 8 S T U F F M a d e I n C T . c o m In the spring of 2018, Walmart made national headlines when the retailer said it would pay for employees to obtain business degrees. These types of tuition assistance and educational- reimbursement programs are in vogue thanks to high-profile businesses like Amazon and Starbucks wanting to improve the quality of their workers' training. This, of course, isn't news to the manufacturing industry, which has pioneered on-the-job training and educational assistance in order to keep good workers at their companies, advancing up the ladder as their skillsets grow. Companies team up with community colleges to develop brand new degrees, certificates and training programs based on the needs of employers. In Connecticut, the business consulting firm CONNSTEP has helped manufacturers to embrace new markets and upgrade the skills of incumbent workers through trainings in lean continuous improvement, business growth and workforce development. Taking a lean management approach allows manufacturers to place greater emphasis on growth and efficiency. Jason Ensminger, owner of Bristol assembly equipment manufacturer Arthur G. Russell Co., says, "Every employee is trained in lean manufacturing and understands the importance of lean; it's an excellent program for all manufacturers." As companies transition to smarter manufacturing practices, many have taken to reaching out to educational institutions regarding curriculum adjustments designed to meet specific needs. Across the state, educational institutions and manufacturers are working together on the local or regional level to create brand new programs. "We are working with area colleges and schools on developing a Mechatronix program that will provide a specific knowledge base for what we do. As a result, electrical and mechanical assembly will be addressed in one curriculum," Ensminger said. "Also, our control engineering manager is working with a state college to build a relevant curriculum to meet our needs for electrical engineering." Connecticut manufacturers pay employees to get training and degrees "Every employee is trained in lean manufacturing and understands the importance of lean; it's an excellent program for all manufacturers." - Arthur G. Russell Co.