With how quickly technology is advancing, professional development is a necessity in any industry. It’s particularly important in manufacturing, which is seeing more automation being introduced on the shop floor. Artificial intelligence is also becoming increasingly prevalent across industries, which means the jobs and skill sets of the future are a bit unclear. Embracing future
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“We specialize in custom injection molding, which means we are always adapting to new challenges and evolving needs,” said Pam McGuire, human resource manager at Sussex IM.
Cell leads and engineers are always on hand to help train employees and ensure products are made to customer specifications.
The cost of additional certifications and technical courses might prohibit an employee from signing up, which is why Sussex IM also invests in professional development opportunities outside the business. The company pays every year to send a cohort of workers through a journeyman apprenticeship program held at Waukesha County Technical College.
“It provides great professional development for both employees and the company,” said McGuire. “It also addresses the growing demand for skilled labor, which can be difficult to secure in today’s competitive job market.”
Sussex IM will also pay for classes that support an employee’s personal goals or interests. For example, one employee recently received her degree in supply chain management from WCTC, McGuire said. Other employees have expressed interest in attending classes to learn English as a second language.
“Many of the technical training programs through WCTC are affordable and provide excellent value,” said McGuire. “They are a great investment in our workforce, offering far more in return than the cost involved.”
Professional development is just as important for shop floor employees as it is for supervisors. Sussex IM has also introduced a Spanish language training program for supervisors to better support their employees.
