Capital Area Manufacturing Council (CAMC) A Regional Skill Alliance (RSA) focused on manufacturing Robert C. Sherer Executive Director

Summary of Presentation Background/History of RSA Background/History of RSA Key Activities of the Council Key Activities of the Council Lessons Learned Lessons Learned Successes Successes

Background Interest in a manufacturing networking group coalesced in spring of 2004 Interest in a manufacturing networking group coalesced in spring of 2004 MMA, Michigan Works!, Community College and Chamber of Commerce in the lead MMA, Michigan Works!, Community College and Chamber of Commerce in the lead Earlier efforts not sustained Earlier efforts not sustained Chamber of Commerce and others Chamber of Commerce and others By-laws of the Capital Area Manufacturing Council adopted in spring of 2004 By-laws of the Capital Area Manufacturing Council adopted in spring of partners/companies active at various levels partners/companies active at various levels Applied for RSA grant funding in initial round of grants Applied for RSA grant funding in initial round of grants RSA started October $88,000 one-year grant RSA started October $88,000 one-year grant

Manufacturing in the Capital Area 21,000 jobs 21,000 jobs 6,000 at GM 6,000 at GM Another 6,000 approximately in auto-related suppliers Another 6,000 approximately in auto-related suppliers 400 companies in manufacturing 400 companies in manufacturing Employment peaked in 1979 at 44,000 jobs Employment peaked in 1979 at 44,000 jobs GM at 20,000 jobs GM at 20,000 jobs Manufacturing 25% of jobs in 1970; now less than 10% Manufacturing 25% of jobs in 1970; now less than 10% Broke a 10-year employment slide in manufacturing in 2006 with a modest employment gain Broke a 10-year employment slide in manufacturing in 2006 with a modest employment gain

Initial Activities of the RSA Grant Application Foster networking Foster networking Promote M-TEC Promote M-TEC Address foundation skills concerns Address foundation skills concerns Develop a web site to support the RSA Develop a web site to support the RSA

Major Activities Membership Meetings Membership Meetings Electronic networking Electronic networking Special Topic Seminars Special Topic Seminars Wage/Compensation Survey Wage/Compensation Survey Training Grants Training Grants Plant Tours Plant Tours Iron Horse Rodeo Iron Horse Rodeo Special offers such as free back safety programs and discount pricing for training at LCC Special offers such as free back safety programs and discount pricing for training at LCC

Operations Housed at Capital Area Michigan Works! Housed at Capital Area Michigan Works! Explored 501(c)3 Explored 501(c)3 Functions like a trade association and networking organization Functions like a trade association and networking organization Use M-TEC facilities as much as possible Use M-TEC facilities as much as possible Meetings Meetings Tours Tours Slate of Officers Slate of Officers Executive Board Executive Board

Electronic Networking I Peer-to-Peer Consulting/Advice Peer-to-Peer Consulting/Advice Best software to integrate time-keeping and job costing Best software to integrate time-keeping and job costing Tornado evacuation plans Tornado evacuation plans How best to communicate with onsite contractors in an emergency How best to communicate with onsite contractors in an emergency Anyone use online employee performance appraisal systems? Anyone use online employee performance appraisal systems? How do you compensate on-call maintenance mechanics How do you compensate on-call maintenance mechanics I need a metallurgist I need a metallurgist

Electronic Networking II Business Opportunities Business Opportunities Company needs 6,000 pieces of titanium milled monthly Company needs 6,000 pieces of titanium milled monthly MSU engineering professor needs fabrication work for patent pending device – Thermal Transient Anemometer MSU engineering professor needs fabrication work for patent pending device – Thermal Transient Anemometer City of Lansing contacted by Korean company wanting a manufacturing partner in the local area City of Lansing contacted by Korean company wanting a manufacturing partner in the local area Ann Arbor-based medical instruments manufacturer needs “special” injection-molded part Ann Arbor-based medical instruments manufacturer needs “special” injection-molded part ** Also, involve manufacturers with other activities in the region

Ongoing Support of RSA Supported by dues, donations and in-kind support from partners and members Supported by dues, donations and in-kind support from partners and members Raising about $60, ,000 a year Raising about $60, ,000 a year Supports about a.75 FTE operation Supports about a.75 FTE operation About 70 companies are members About 70 companies are members Michigan Works and Lansing Community College provide additional support Michigan Works and Lansing Community College provide additional support Need to reach $80,000 a year Need to reach $80,000 a year

Training Grants WIA Incumbent Worker Funds WIA Incumbent Worker Funds Several unsuccessful grant applications Several unsuccessful grant applications EDJT, President’s High-Growth Job Training Initiative, Community-Based Job Training Initiative EDJT, President’s High-Growth Job Training Initiative, Community-Based Job Training Initiative

Incumbent Worker Training Training and WorkKeys Support for Manufacturing RSA Training and WorkKeys Support for Manufacturing RSA About $100,000 - $150,000 available a year for manufacturing About $100,000 - $150,000 available a year for manufacturing Trained 1500 employees (thru 6/30/07) Trained 1500 employees (thru 6/30/07) Profiled 16 positions in 12 companies (first two years) Profiled 16 positions in 12 companies (first two years) Assessed jobseekers (first two years) Assessed jobseekers (first two years)

Lessons Learned Workforce development as sole focus not enough to sustain RSA/group Workforce development as sole focus not enough to sustain RSA/group Networking activities stronger than anticipated Networking activities stronger than anticipated Depth, scope, quality surprising Depth, scope, quality surprising Basic skills more difficult to address than anticipated despite concerns about them Basic skills more difficult to address than anticipated despite concerns about them Reached plateau on membership quickly Reached plateau on membership quickly Contact lists / lists a constant challenge Contact lists / lists a constant challenge Fund-raising a full-time job Fund-raising a full-time job Focused on membership for primary revenue so far Focused on membership for primary revenue so far

Successes Scope and depth of networking surprising Scope and depth of networking surprising Challenge to conduct at the proper level Challenge to conduct at the proper level Number of WorkKeys job profiles and assessments Number of WorkKeys job profiles and assessments Training through Incumbent Worker Grants Training through Incumbent Worker Grants Indentify / Address CNC/welder skill shortages Indentify / Address CNC/welder skill shortages Engage manufactures with M-TEC Engage manufactures with M-TEC Involve manufacturers in community Involve manufacturers in community Have a local organization that speaks for manufacturers Have a local organization that speaks for manufacturers

Contact Information Robert C. Sherer, Executive Director Capital Area Manufacturing Council 2110 S. Cedar Street Lansing, MI (fax)