PPWFC OFFERS PILOT LEAN/SIX SIGMA TRAINING

Local Employers Benefit from Trained Workforce

February 28, 2008, Colorado Springs, CO – To ensure that local employers have access to workers with the right skills, the Pikes Peak Workforce Center (PPWFC) and the Colorado Association for Manufacturing and Technology (CAMT) are offering pilot program that consists of a series of Lean/Six Sigma classes to workers who have lost their jobs through no fault of their own.

“Manufacturing is vital in sustaining our local economy,” says Joseph Pentlicki, Account and Program Manager for CAMT. “Because of the opportunity to provide training on skills necessary to improve manufacturing competitiveness, including Lean Manufacturing, Six Sigma and other problem solving techniques, and Internal ISO auditor training, we are able to benefit local businesses by developing a pool of trained workers, needed by those businesses.”

“I am happy to be part of this program because it allows me to upgrade my skills and makes me more marketable,” says Thomas King. “With these new certifications and my past experience, I am confident that I will be able to find work more quickly than I would if I did not have the Six Sigma certifications.”

Nineteen unemployed workers applied to and were accepted into the pilot program which continues for six weeks. The classes are held on Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday, from 8:00 a.m. to noon. Upon completion of the training, the students will be certified in the following areas:

· Quality Basics Training covers using quality tools, such as fishbone and pareto charts to address problems
· Yellow Belt covers problems solving techniques
· Lean Six Sigma covers Six Sigma applications including waste reduction and efficiency
· Lean Basics covers all elements that make up Lean processes
· Root Cause is similar to Six Sigma and focuses on organized problem solving
· Statistical Problem Solving (SPC)
· ISO Auditor covers the isometric international standard for quality systems

The instructor for this pilot program, Mr. Don Boyer received his BSEE from Southern Illinois University and is a Senior Associate with CAMT. Mr. Boyer provides practical, hands on training in LEAN concepts and has held quality manufacturing, operations management and design positions in several high tech companies and has over 40 years in the industry. He has done consulting in ISO since 1992; has worked in Lean since 1995; and consulted in Lean since 1999.

About PPWFC

The Pikes Peak Workforce Center supports business and promotes employment by providing market-driven solutions for our community to succeed in the global economy. PPWFC helps businesses solve their workforce-related business problems and helps residents with career transition. More information about the Pikes Peak Workforce Center can be found online at www.ppwfc.org.