EVERLAST CRAFTS SUCCESS WITH WORKFORCE TRAINING For over five decades, Everlast has been an integral part of the tight-knit community of Moberly. Serving as the sole domestic manufacturing site for Everlast branded items, the facility has been a cornerstone of the community since 1966. While the brand originated in 1910 and is now headquartered in the UK, its name is synonymous with quality, strength, and competitiveness. Proving that it can punch above its weight, the Moberly plant has played a pivotal role in shaping the sporting landscape, boasting relationships with iconic figures like pro heavyweight boxer Muhammad Ali and the fictional boxer Rocky Balboa. Chances are if you’ve watched professional sports in the ring, or professional actors on the silver screen, you’ve seen Everlast items that were made in Moberly. To keep its 75 employees fit for the future, the company is collaborating with the Workforce Development Center at Moberly Area Community College (MACC). Assisted by training funds from Missouri One Start, Everlast and MACC implemented a comprehensive training program encompassing Certified Production Technician training, Excel proficiency courses, leadership development, and self-paced soft skills modules. Ruchelle Jacobi, Everlast’s HR Director and a long-time advocate of customized training, attests to its transformative impact. “Partnering with MACC’s Workforce Development Center has been such a positive experience for our employees and management staff. The Customized Training Program funded through Missouri One Start has allowed us to provide development opportunities that would have been impossible before.” Employees clearly appreciate the investment. “The training was a great refresher to give us the opportunity to get additional tools and information to help us with our day to day tasks. It was a good way to obtain the additional knowledge for the individual parts we did not know.” In the future, the company plans to expand training to areas such as Industrial Electricity, Mechatronics, Lean principles, and Power BI analytics. Through its commitment to its employees, Everlast is poised to remain a champion in the sports apparel industry. About Missouri One Start: Missouri One Start is a Division within the Department of Economic Development. Training programs are administered regionally by local education agencies (LEAs). In addition to meeting certain eligibility criteria, companies must be making a capital investment five times greater than the amount of training funds they receive. « DEMA Engineering Success StorySRC Success Story »
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SUBJECT MATTER EXPERTS HELP DEMA MANUFACTURING SIMPLIFY DEMA Engineering of St. Louis, which produces fluid dispenser systems for a variety of industries, needed to find efficiencies throughout their company. Company leaders wanted to merge all their company-wide processes into one software system. Their goal was to have one computer system control all aspects of the business: sales, purchasing, manufacturing, and shipping. With assistance from Missouri One Start, the company partnered with cloud ERP software corporation Epicor to begin the process. Epicor sent their training force to the DEMA Engineering facility to upskill a select group of employees as subject matter experts (SMEs). After becoming skilled in the process, the DEMA SMEs would then educate others on the new productivity-enhancing software. DEMA Engineering has completed the first phase of training and their subject matter experts are now teaching the rest of the workforce. As more and more employees learn the new system, the company will be able to better track sales, purchasing, manufacturing, and shipping, thus increasing efficiency overall. About Missouri One Start:Missouri One Start is a Division within the Department of Economic Development. Training programs are administered regionally by local education agencies (LEAs). In addition to meeting certain eligibility criteria, companies must be making a capital investment five times greater than the amount of training funds they receive. « Unilever Success StoryEverlast Success Story »
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SPECIALIZED TRAINING HELPS UNILEVER INVEST IN WORKFORCE Unilever of Jefferson City has seen considerable expansion over the last two years. This growth created a large investment in equipment modernization and additional production capabilities. It also brought about the need to upskill the company’s workforce to meet current industry standards. In partnership with Missouri One Start, State Fair Community College (SFCC) The LearningForce worked with Unilever to develop a Custom Technical Training Center. A team member from the college worked closely with the company to develop a specialized training plan for their workforce, and identified the appropriate tools and equipment needed for the training center. Together they developed curriculum and established a dedicated learning space in Unilever’s plant. Employees now have dedicated training space to receive instruction via classroom training, skills demonstrations, and hands-on application courses. This investment in training development has led to a better understanding of employees’ current skill levels. Additionally, it has also expanded the company’s pool of available qualified candidates for growth opportunities. Since the project began, Unilever has been able to train and assess more than 50 employees. “State Fair Community College is a valued partner in leveraging the educational opportunities afforded to our workforce,” says Creag Garrett, Training Supervisor. “The addition of the Center’s programs revolutionizes the way our future workforce perceives manufacturing and supports our ongoing commitment to invest in our people.” “Unilever is a valuable employer and partner in the region and their commitment to training and development demonstrates the company’s commitment to economic development,” says Amy Jackson, Executive Director of State Fair Community College’s The LearningForce. “Their innovation and investment in their facility and people is cutting edge.” About Missouri One Start: Missouri One Start is a Division within the Department of Economic Development. Training programs are administered regionally by local education agencies (LEAs). In addition to meeting certain eligibility criteria, companies must be making a capital investment five times greater than the amount of training funds they receive. « Scholastic Success StoryDEMA Engineering Success Story »
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SCHOLASTIC UTILIZES CUSTOMIZED TRAINING PROGRAM TO ENSURE RELEVANT WORKFORCE Jefferson City based Scholastic Books, Inc wanted training for employees that would help them create efficiencies in their operations. The goal was to educate participants on process improvement and the tools they could use in their employment. Yet, they needed a course customized to their specific needs. The company was able to meet the challenge and create a course that checked all the boxes by partnering with The LearningForce at State Fair Community College; an education partner of Missouri One Start. As a result, they provided training to twenty-nine employees. The courses covered topics such as Lean Six Sigma principles, cause and effect diagrams, and mistake proofing among others. Two instructors with differing backgrounds led the classes. This variety provided participants with a unique experience covering various situational examples. After training, participants reported that they found it informative and helpful. Approximately 85% of respondents listed process mapping tools as the most valuable takeaway. The company plans to duplicate this training in the future. “Scholastic is a valuable employer and industry in the Jefferson City region,” says Amy Jackson, The LearningForce Executive Director. “Their partnership with State Fair Community College and Missouri One Start has spanned many years and has enabled the company to secure funds that help offset the cost of training. This enables their workforce to remain competitive in the marketplace.” About Missouri One Start: Missouri One Start is a Division within the Department of Economic Development. Training programs are administered regionally by local education agencies (LEAs). In addition to meeting certain eligibility criteria, companies must be making a capital investment five times greater than the amount of training funds they receive. « PFS Brands Success StoryUnilever Success Story »
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ONGOING TRAINING PARTNERSHIP PROVIDES LASTING RESULTS Over the last 10 years, PFS Brands and State Technical College have built an enduring and successful relationship around training programs. As a result of this partnership, the company has seen growth in various areas including production and expansion, as well as employee training, development, and retention. PFSbrands recently constructed a new manufacturing facility which introduced new production lines. A current facility was also expanded during this time. These expanded lines led to the opportunity for new products to be manufactured, further increasing the opportunity for the company to grow. Due to expanding operations the company’s workforce has also grown. Increased facility space and production line capability mean new hires are constantly being added and current employees are being upskilled to keep up with demand. The training provided by State Technical College, via assistance from Missouri One Start, has helped PFSbrands find and retain employees and provide them with career development to advance to higher skilled positions. Training has also opened the doors for employees to earn higher wages, resulting in higher levels of employee satisfaction. Carla Dowden, Senior VP People Success remarked, “State Tech has been instrumental in working with us to share knowledge and expertise in getting the training resources we need. Their leadership in this process has been instrumental in our success.” About Missouri One Start: Missouri One Start is a Division within the Department of Economic Development. Training programs are administered regionally by local education agencies (LEAs). In addition to meeting certain eligibility criteria, companies must be making a capital investment five times greater than the amount of training funds they receive. « Kawasaki Success StoryScholastic Success Story »
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KAWASAKI MOTORS UPSKILLS EXISTING WORKFORCE FOR NEW PRODUCTION LINES Over the last few years, Kawasaki Motors Manufacturing in Maryville experienced rapid growth due to the addition of semi-automated machining lines, new die cast machinery, and engine assembly lines. The expansion of operations created a need for additional employees and gave the current workforce the opportunity to grow within the company. As a result, six new Engineering Technician and six Maintenance Technician positions were filled from within. These new techs brought valuable knowledge and production experience to their roles, but additional training was required to develop the skillsets needed for their new positions. Thanks to the partnership between Missouri One Start and Northwest Technical School, Kawasaki Motors Manufacturing received training assistance to skill up the 12 new Engineering and Maintenance Technicians and provide higher-quality training to current production staff. During this process, each new technician shadowed an experienced employee. Engineering Technicians received training on AutoCAD and geometrical dimensioning and tolerancing. Maintenance Technicians completed courses in areas that included hydraulics and electrical arc flash. This specialized instruction gave new technicians the skillsets to work efficiently and safely in their roles. “These training opportunities impact employee safety and quality of product, but more importantly, [they] allow current employees to advance their careers within the company,” Michelle Peter, Training Administrator III for Kawasaki, said. “For example, the new engineering and maintenance technicians aided in the successful install all of the new machines and assembly lines thus far.” To make the transition easier, each employee shadowed an experienced employee in that field. For our engineer technicians, additional training of AutoCAD, and Geometrical Dimensioning and Tolerancing were need to be able to generate and interprete 2D and 3D models. Our maintenance technicians were given training that included Hydraulics, Electrical Arc Flash, and various courses that gave them the skillset to work on machines efficiently and safely. About Missouri One Start: Missouri One Start is a Division within the Department of Economic Development. Training programs are administered regionally by local education agencies (LEAs). In addition to meeting certain eligibility criteria, companies must be making a capital investment five times greater than the amount of training funds they receive. « Procter & Gamble Success StoryPFS Brands Success Story »
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SKILLS TRAINING FILLS GAP LEFT BY RETIREES Procter and Gamble’s Cape Girardeau plant faced a significant loss of skill and work experience when electrical technicians began reaching retirement age and leaving the workforce. Evolving technology, coupled with the fact that electricians promoted from within the company had little to no initial electrical training, meant that remaining technicians were faced with a significant skills gap, outdated knowledge, and nowhere to turn for support and education. To address this problem, the company partnered with Mineral Area College, where they qualified for Missouri One Start’s workforce training assistance. This allowed the company to provide training to new and existing technicians in the field of automated manufacturing equipment. New technicians received education on entry-level skills, and current technicians in the company received up-to-date electrical automation training to ensure they were on par with industry standards. Through these training courses, the company was able to bridge the skills gap created by retiring technicians and significantly reduce the time and manpower required to troubleshoot and repair automated equipment, leading to improved operational efficiency. Matt Koenig, Education & Training HR leader at Procter & Gamble, had this to say, “Overall, the training we provided, thanks to assistance from Missouri One Start and our partnership with Mineral Area College, has empowered our workforce with the necessary skills and knowledge to handle the challenges of evolving technology within the field of automated manufacturing.” About Missouri One Start: Missouri One Start is a Division within the Department of Economic Development. Training programs are administered regionally by local education agencies (LEAs). In addition to meeting certain eligibility criteria, companies must be making a capital investment five times greater than the amount of training funds they receive. « Brunson Instrument Company – Workforce Training SuccessKawasaki Success Story »
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BRUNSON INSTRUMENT COMPANY & METROPOLITAN COMMUNITY COLLEGE (KANSAS CITY) Brunson Instrument Company first opened its doors in 1927 as a one-man repair shop founded by A.N. Brunson to assist early land surveyors in calibrating their equipment. After hearing many customer complaints about the technology that was available at the time, Brunson took on the challenge of improving several types of surveying instruments. With a strong focus on customer service, A.N. Brunson prided himself on creating solutions for technical problems that people said couldn’t be solved. This guiding principle has allowed the company to enjoy a long, rich history in the Kansas City area. The company still resides there today and currently engineers, manufactures, and markets portable measurement and alignment solutions for high precision industrial applications. Through the years, Brunson Instrument Company has continued to grow by following their guiding principle of listening to customer input and proactively creating new products to address customer concerns. For the last eight years, the company has partnered with Missouri One Start’s Local Education Agency, Metropolitan Community College, to develop training on finite element analysis (FEA) software. As a result, the company has experienced multiple benefits, one of which is adopting a strategic approach to meeting customer needs. “With higher-level training, we can do a better job of using our 3D modeling software to prove out mechanical designs. FEA can perform analysis on mechanical systems that are too complex to address any other way,” says Engineering Director Mark Meuret. President Richard Powell added that, “When our engineers can improve our time-to-market, we solve the customer’s problem more quickly, and they really appreciate that. [This training] has helped us speed development cycles and increase our customer satisfaction level. We are able to be more of a partner to our customers, which is part of our business model.” This increase in skills and service allows the company to take a strategic approach in meeting client needs, giving them a competitive edge and the capacity to serve an international client base. Metropolitan Community College has worked with Missouri One Start and the Department of Economic Development’s recruitment and training programs since 1987. About Missouri One Start: Missouri One Start is a Division within the Department of Economic Development. Training programs are administered regionally by local education agencies (LEAs). In addition to meeting certain eligibility criteria, companies must be making a capital investment five times greater than the amount of training funds they receive. « Exhibit Associates – Kansas City Trade Show Success StoryProcter & Gamble Success Story »
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METROPOLITAN COMMUNITY COLLEGE CONTINUES TO PARTNER WITH LEADERS LIKE EXHIBIT ASSOCIATES Kansas City business Exhibit Associates has been partnering with Local Education Agency Metropolitan Community College (MCC) for essential cross training needs since 2017. The company builds custom displays that are used in trade shows, museums, and corporations all around the world, including the exhibits at the Black Achieves building located in Kansas City’s 18th and Vine district and inside Union Station within Union Station Stories in Mezzanine levels 2 and 3. They are also responsible for creating the Negro Leagues’ nationwide traveling exhibit celebrating Jackie Robinson and the 16 other MLB Barrier Breakers. According to owner Amy Jalbert, the need to cross train their employees became clear when they were working to meet demand. “If one person was out, no one else knew how to do their job. We knew we needed to do something,” said Jalbert. The company was able to work directly with trainers from MCC in their facility to create customized training plans as well as manuals that quickly upskilled their employees. In return, this increased company productivity, ensuring Exhibit Associates’ ability to keep up with customer demand. Metropolitan Community College was also able to provide critical safety trainings to employees. “In our line of work, safety is crucial. I sent one of my employees to forklift training from the Carpenters Regional Council and he was able to share what he learned with my other employees,” she noted. Amy also shared that with training partnership she was able to explore blueprinting training. By completing this essential training, Exhibit Associates expanded the services they were able to offer to their clients, allowing them to bid on over $500,000 worth of new business that would have previously been out of reach for the company. MCC has been working with Missouri One Start and the Department of Economic Development’s recruitment and training programs since 1987. About Missouri One Start: Missouri One Start is a Division within the Department of Economic Development. Training programs are administered regionally by local education agencies (LEAs). In addition to meeting certain eligibility criteria, companies must be making a capital investment five times greater than the amount of training funds they receive. « Featured in Business Facilities MagazineBrunson Instrument Company – Workforce Training Success »
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MISSOURI: VIRTUAL REALITY TRAINING HELP SPEED WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT In Missouri, the “silicon prairie”, where Kansas City & St. Louis are ranked by the bookings institution as rising star metros for tech jobs, Virtual Reality training is gaining ground. Fourteen of the 16 community colleges and tech schools Missouri One Start partners with provide VR instruction. Training modules include career exploration for students and specific workforce training for employees. The experience for both cohorts is more than a presentation or tour. VR technology gets participants involved with tasks and skills immediately. “Our initial thoughts regarding VR training came during the pandemic, when being safe meant keeping people out of classrooms and shared spaces” said Kristie Davis, Director at Missouri One Start. “But we quickly realized that this technology allows workers to safely experience or develop skills for tasks that can be dangerous, and preliminary exposure increases their chance of success once the training becomes hands-on. It can also increase safety and control material costs. It’s clear to see why it’s popular” But trainee safety and cost savings are only a part of the benefits of VR. Workers trained at Mineral Area College in Park Hills have given this new way of learning an enthusiastic thumb’s up. “When one of our OSHA trainers found out the headsets were available for his class, he was thrilled”, said Michele Shore, Director of Workforce Development. “When he passed out the headsets and the trainees started performing tasks in the modules, the level of enthusiasm was unbelievable. You could see the classroom come to life. They were laughing; they were having fun. I don’t think any of my OSHA trainers will ever give the class without it again” But Shore also admits that at first she was hesitant about how the headsets would be received and wondered if incumbent workers would be willing to adopt this new technology. “I was taken aback by how they reacted,” she recalls. “These manufacturing workers had such a positive reaction. They all said I’d love to have more of this!” In terms of building career pathways with youth and young adults, it’s hard to beat industry and skills exposure that comes via VR. With so many Gen Z already living in a virtual world, the headsets are second nature. “It allows for sort of natural competition. Students begin the trial, but they want to ‘win.’ They want to make it all the way through the training.” said Shore. Shelle Jacobs, Deputy Director of Missouri One Start, points out that while recent experiences point to an almost fun-and-games mentality of completing the modules, the purpose of the headsets is not to complete all training virtually but to supplement or prepare trainees for full hands-on instruction. “Trainers and instructors are provided a dashboard, so they can see how students are doing in real time. And if someone has failed repeatedly, the headset will actually shut down so the trainer can focus on that worker,, review basics, or provide help” For manufacturing or general business, this dashboard can also signal a skill-fit issue. VR training gets trainees into tasks right away, inside the classroom, which in turn brings excellence or failure to light faster. Being able to ascertain where workers fail in terms of capability, and advance or reassign them more quickly is good for retention. For more information, visit https://missourionestart.com/ About Missouri One Start: Missouri One Start is a Division within the Department of Economic Development. Training programs are administered regionally by local education agencies (LEAs). In addition to meeting certain eligibility criteria, companies must be making a capital investment five times greater than the amount of training funds they receive. « Holloway America Success StoryExhibit Associates – Kansas City Trade Show Success Story »
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