Getting technology education suited to packging - A how-to guide

Technology education in America has been driven by the automotive, metals, aerospace and petro-chemical industries. Certificate programs from organizations like ISA do a good job in preparing technicians for the petro-chemical industry. Programs from NCIST (National Center for Integrated Systems Technology) prepare technicians for employment in the automotive or metals industries. But where does one go for a certificate that prepares technicians for packaging and consumer packaged goods? The available programs are few and far between. What can packagers and packaging machinery manufacturers do to ensure the availability of an adequately educated and trained workforce that empowers them to reap the benefits of the advanced technologies available to them?

The differences in educational focus for these three areas may not be obvious at first. And there certainly would be nothing wrong with educational programs that covered the entire spectrum of technologies across process, hybrid and discrete manufacturing. But the reality is, there is just too much technology to be covered at anything other than a cursory level in any reasonable amount of time.

Process industries require a focus on flow, valves, temperature, pressure, PID control, feedback and feed-forward strategies, class-I hazard areas, distributed control systems, analyzers, etc. etc. Automotive and metals industries require a focus on discrete logic, CNC controllers, hydraulics, pneumatics, robots, welders, assembly operations, etc. etc. Hybrid industries, where much of packaging exists, require a focus upon batch control, HVAC, high speed logic, general purpose motion control, integration of machines and processes, etc. etc. All the areas require a solid background in computer skills, communications skills, math, science, logical thinking and troubleshooting.

The curriculum development and hardware costs to teach any of these technologies are significant. It's no wonder then, that educational curriculum and equipment providers have followed the lead of those companies with the deepest pockets. When Exxon-Mobile or Ford approaches a company to develop training curriculum, the impact is much different than when any one packaging machinery manufacturer or packaging machinery end user approaches that company. Even though the consumer packaged goods industry is huge in America, it is highly fragmented amongst many small companies. It is much more difficult for the curriculum development folks to see a guaranteed return on their significant investment when the potential customer base is so fragmented.

Most local secondary technology education centers and junior colleges are guided by industrial advisory boards. Here too, larger companies like Dupont, Alcoa, and Caterpillar are more likely to participate in these boards than are local or regional food processors, medical device makers or packaging machinery manufacturers.

So, what can packagers and packaging machinery manufacturers do to influence education in America? Here are several suggestions.

1) Understand the technology needs of your company and be able to explain why existing programs may be lacking.

2) Look over the horizon – not in the rear view mirror. Think about your needs 5 years out. It may take that long to get curriculum and equipment in place.

3) Recognize the increasing inter-dependence of technologies such as mechanics, electronics, computers and controls. Should the technicians in your company be focused upon one area or be multi-skilled? Help break down the barriers between the disciplines, both inside your company and within the educational community.

4) Focus on local educational institutions. Drive and support them to provide the training that you need. This keeps them from falling behind the technology curve and will help insure that the pool of potential new workers that they educate will be better prepared to enter the workplace.

5) Recognize that products evolve rapidly but technologies change much more slowly. I favor education on technologies rather than constant training on products.

6) Increase visibility and influence by working through trade organizations.

7) Help you trade organization to develop an appropriate educational strategy. Does your organization have the resources to develop and maintain curriculum? Should your organization see training as a service or a profit center? Can the organization partner with other organizations, educators and curriculum developers to establish a certificate program?

8) Participate on educational advisory boards. Send executives and expect results.

9) Benchmark and share ideas.

Some activities are underway. PMMI, the Automation Foundation (which includes ISA and OMAC), NCIST and a group of community colleges that have technology programs related to packaging are meeting mid June in St. Louis to discuss the potential for a packaging-related certificate program. This is a follow up to a 2 day conference on Workforce Upskilling and Mechatronics that was held this past March and included many of the same participants. Information on this conference, including a list of community colleges that are focusing in this area, may be found at the website for Pennsylvania's Industrial Mainteance Training Center under the box entitled Education Update.

If you would like to participate in these activities, contact me and I will put you in touch with the appropriate people. Hope to hear from lots of you!

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