Job creation in today’s global economy is an ongoing battle in the survival-of-the-fittest game. Organizations with the highest skilled workforces most often win. Heraeus Medical Components, a division of a 160-year-old globally active, family-run business, is proving it’s a winner.
After completing an 18,000-square-foot expansion of manufacturing production space at its White Bear Township facility, and adding approximately 50 new technical production and engineering-level employees, Heraeus teamed up with Century College to create a customized training program to help elevate staff to the next level of competence and product innovation. The program runs through February 2016 and is funded by a $50,000 Minnesota Jobs Skills Partnership (MSJP) grant.
In 1983, the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED) created the MJSP with the intent of linking higher education with businesses to fuel job growth and build a skilled labor force to meet the challenges and opportunities of ever-emerging new technologies and industries in Minnesota.
Steven Rosenstone, chancellor of Minnesota State Colleges and Universities (MnSCU), of which Century College is a part, launched a new strategic plan, “Charting the Future,” which includes MJSP grants as an important tactic in building bridges between its member institutions and the Minnesota business community.
Each year, Century College submits several MJSP grant proposals in collaboration with Minnesota businesses to support various educational initiatives. “At any given point, numerous grant requests are in development, awaiting approval or being implemented,” says Larry Raddatz, Century’s director of customized training. “DEED seeks to fund companies that are expanding in new directions, have unique cutting-edge technologies and are experiencing significant hiring. After measuring success, companies can reapply for continued funding if something new or unique is added to the training parameters.”
Roughly half of Heraeus’ 400 employees hold technical production and engineering positions and are participating in courses designed to reduce scrap waste, increase productivity and improve quality. Courses include statistical process control, print reading, quality processes and documentation. Topical/conceptual classroom training and proprietary hands-on equipment usage training will be on-site at Heraeus. Many of the instructors for customized training programs are outside contractors with specific expertise in needed areas.
“The really great thing is this grant provides a tangible economic boost. We offer high-paying technical jobs with good benefits that can support families allowing them to buy homes, cars, clothes, furniture, tech toys, vacations, entertainment, etc. This income funnels back out into the local economy, boosting lifestyles and overall community vitality,” says Heraeus’ human resources director Gregg Peterson. “With training, employees gain experience and new qualifications which further propels them up the corporate ladder, thus starting the earnings/economic growth cycle over again. Additionally, a large percentage of our technical employees are minorities.”
This relationship is also beneficial to the college. “MJSP grants also help Century expand its capacity,” says Raddatz. “Once we’ve invested in the customized curriculum, it just makes good business sense to further promote these offerings to other companies who need advanced technical training, without compromising trade secrets of original grant partners.”
Heraeus’ customer list reads like a Who’s Who in the medical device manufacturing industry. “Ultimately, success of this training will increase product quality for our customers who rely on us for the best components. They, in turn, can create the best implantable devices for patients who ultimately receive them,” says Peterson. “Contrary to popular belief, manufacturing is not dead, especially here in Minnesota where we enjoy a vibrant, growing and diverse medical device industry.”
