Comments

Your point is right on, I am expierienceing the exact situation in my machine manufacturing company. % years ago, there was a steady stream of workiers waiting for jobs, now I get zero or a couple of semi - skilled applicants. I am forced into automation and outsourcing. I fought it , but I know longer care, it is just a matter of survival.

Posted by: Ron Ungar on November 26, 2007

An interesting scenario that gives an industry insight to the issues of the skills for packagers and other manufacturers. When I think of what youw rite I ask myself does this mean that the packaging machinery suppliers have the same issues? I actually believe that is not a general case as you outline for the what you write. Perhaps this is because engineering companies require designers, project engineers and technicians that fulfil the vision of what young people are after. Therefore if that be true then it is not a labour crisis but a perception one from the young people as you outline in Pensylvania. However operating from Europe can also have influence on this as we can migrate technicians to operate that role in a new country that can be a wish for them. In summary, automation is a trend and suppliers will cope so why not the customer?

Posted by: Tom Docherty on November 26, 2007

Being part of a consulting firm, I have come across the issue of not enough skilled labor being available at packaging facilities. One plant manager has started working closely with the local community college. He has been working with them to offer technology courses so that he can train his existing maintenance staff in the use and maintenance of automated machinery. He is now on the college?s governing board and has brought a new direction to a community that has several big industrial names in the vicinity. They too will benefit from his work and commitment to his existing employees.

Posted by: John Peterson on November 26, 2007

Amen to that. We have used the leaving military as one of the best resources for filling maintenance jobs but the unskilled labor we have never had a problem with. Of course they are shipping the jobs to Montery where labor is cheap! You know the deal...
Good food for thought, as always!
Nancy

Posted by: Nancy Cobb on November 26, 2007

The problem you speak of is definetly growing. As a Canadian who travels to the US for my company, which is directly involved in packaging with US and Canadian operations, I can see it from a outside perspective. Government initiatives are the best method to increase skilled labor through proper apprenticeship training and certification, with tax and training incentives for employer/employees. This is something which is distinctly absent in the USA compared with other Western nations. Learning a trade or craft passed down from generation to generation loses something during each transaction not to mention keeping up with changes in technology. Make no mistake our system isn't perfect either.....

Posted by: David Riseborough on November 26, 2007

I believe the problem runs far beyond skilled and unskilled labor.
When I pursued my MBA, the perception of working in manufacturing was a negative one. There was an inherent stigma that applying an advanced degree in a manufacturing environment meant the individual was not qualified for anything else. The thought of possibly getting grease on hands and clothing was appalling.
Those of us in manufacturing know how wrong this view is, and how much the enhanced perspective is sorely needed on the manufacturing floor.

Posted by: Chuck on November 26, 2007

What can I say. We in North America are trained by the media, government and schools to get the most money by doing the least work. If you can rip the other guy off before he does it to you, you are a hero. Our moral and ethics are still sliding down into the gutter. I guess we will have to hit bottom and become a third world nation before we realize that we have to roll up our sleeves and really work. If we do not show our kids through example, it will not happen. The media, schools and government structures are counterproductive to our future. Until we throw the trash out, they will prevail over our children and our children will get even with us through euthanasia.

Posted by: Paul Zepf on November 26, 2007

I agree. It's hard to find skilled workers. Maybe it's in the way we advertize for them. Most companys post jobs via internet. That's great if you know your way around a computer or even know of companies to search for. Older skilled workers still read newspapers. We need learn how to tap into each generation.

Posted by: Lea Weber on November 26, 2007

Read about the employment and skills problem being discussed in your industry:
A:
A lot of times the fellas on the shop floor can provide important answers but you got to make it worth their while to open up to you.

Machines , Automation:
What ever the machine.
Three things come into play. 1.instruction as to how it works and what is was designed to do and a full knowledge of this. 2. actual operation. what you do to make it do what it is supposed to do and having the confidence to do so. 3.maintenance what do you need to do to keep the machine able to operate at peak efficiency for the next job and doing what it takes to keep it at the ready.

In order #1-3 In some shops instruction on equipment comes from an owner or an experienced machine operator with several years experience on the machine.This person needs to be willing to train the next new press operator and in some cases a press maintenance individual as well.
If you can set it up so the experienced man is ok with getting the machine set up and running smooth and then explaining how it was done to a new press operator then a training cycle can begin in your shop.
You will be able to continue using your existing equipment and manpower for a longer period of time; train new press operators and maybe be able to avoid a situation where, a new piece of equipment comes through the door and everybodys scratching their heads waiting for the rep to arrive from across the ocean to push the start button.

John Edgerton
Pres:
T/J Die Company SC, CA
11-26-2007

Posted by: John Edgerton on November 26, 2007

While I agree in principle with your comments, we need to consider the sources from which skilled packaging personnel are produced and on which the success of our industry depends. Although I have not been involved for some time with packaging school graduates, I continue to here criticism from com-panies concerning the lack of understanding graduates from these schools have of the basic equipment used in mechanical packaging lines.

The development of effective automatic to automated pack-aging systems requires an extensive engineering back ground which can only be gained from exposure to advanced technologies. The important front end consider-ations in the decision to move from manual into basic cost and performance effect-ive automatic packaging, requires the input from trained professionals yet I see little evidence that young engineers coming into our industry are well pre-pared for the future demands which will be made on them.

Posted by: Russell Martin on November 27, 2007

I'm currently invloved in Automation Projects in South Africa in various industries. We too have technical skill shortages, although our weaker currency creates a different problem. Graduates are attracted to the stronger foreign currencies. Another point is a successfully completed apprenticeship that is no longer subsidized as it was in the past does not lead to many trades people entering the market. I've worked with Engineering Graduates that have no pratical experience and this creates a delay in productivity this I believe a vital part of training. While I'm still in South Africa I don't mind if the competion leaves for other shores, cause this leaves only more work and demand creates higher rates. Personally I believe automation is the answer, but I notice so many clients throwing money at systems with little design input and when the machines are commissioned they're unable to maintain these machines. Fear of Automation creates this detached owernership of the investment in an Automation System. Our training costs for PLC and Scada systems are costly and I end up reading the Manauls rather. Automation provides efficient systems if people will only embrace and take ownership of the systems.

Posted by: Colin Canham on November 27, 2007

I like this discussion and I would like to give some inputs. We train the current technicians by providing opportunities to get an education and help them by giving them experience. They can develop confidence with specialized machinery and find positions by networking. The location and pay are determining factors for their choices. I think we need more help with sharing the success stories from well adjusted workers to interested potential students that they can relate to. This is one way of how we work to get them here and we could use some professional help. A grassroots effort called goldcollarcareers.com is being used locally and is run and developed by industry. Training them when they get here is changing with the changing student and work roles. Putting an emphasis on what is required by employers (Curriculum developed by input on skills standards) and developing basic skills related to packaging machines is what I have been providing instruction on for 20 years. It is fun for me and we need to model the fun a good job can be when you find one like yours Keith.

Posted by: Kevin Lipsky on December 5, 2007

Companies need to use contract packagers or co-packers to save time/money.
This way they can concentrate on what they do best and let the contract packagers finish everything else.

Posted by: Joe on December 6, 2007