When Bossier Parish Community College’s new Industrial Readiness Training program begins next week, participating employers will have the opportunity to assess and select successful graduates for hire directly from the program.
Developed in partnership with the local Workforce Investment Boards, business, industry, and government leaders, the innovative training course will teach individuals soft skills like safety, communication and team-building and hard skills like basic mechanics and math; however, a unique component of the course is it is conducted on behalf of an employer and that employer will be able to assess the students while they go through the course. Industrial Readiness Training is a preview for the employer to see the skills and behaviors as the students learn them.
BPCC Chancellor Jim Henderson says BPCC looks forward to being the area’s training provider. “BPCC is ready to meet all training needs for manufacturers with workforce training and education.”
Henderson adds, “Our goal with this opportunity is to better define employable candidates, and make them work-ready for entry level positions. We will work with the companies to meet specific education and training needs beyond basic skills and assessments.”
Ron-Pak, Inc. will be the first employer to participate in the training program.
“Ronpak, Inc. is very excited to be the first employer to benefit from the Industrial Readiness training program,” said Elizabeth Henson, Human Resources for Ron-Pak. “We provide extensive training to every employee so we especially look forward to hiring from this group as we expand our headquarters in Shreveport, LA.”
The Industrial Readiness Program, a 49-hour, 12-day program scheduled from 8:00 am-12:00 pm, Monday-Friday, consists of 6 major components:
WorkKeys® Pre-Test
• Tests job-related knowledge and abilities that can be used to identify readiness for specific jobs (Reading, Math, locating information i.e. reading charts, etc.)
• Career Readiness Certificate: Bronze, Silver or Gold
Mechanical Aptitude pre Assessment
• Tests mechanical aptitude, or the ability to “figure it out”, not necessarily experience.
KeyTrain®
• An online, self-paced training program designed to enhance a person’s job readiness knowledge and skills covered in the WorkKeys® tests.
• Used by individuals to improve WorkKeys® scores.
Industrial Readiness Training
• Climate and Culture
• Communication (appropriate business and interpersonal communication)
• Team Building
• Technical Math – applied math
• Lean and Waste Management
• Basic Machines
Post Tests
• WorkKeys®
• Mechanical Aptitude
Follow-up Data Collection
• Interviews
• Job Offers, Retention at 30, 90 and 180 days
To participate, employers place a job order with the Louisiana Workforce Commission. The LWC screens, interviews and recommends at least 20 applicants for the Industrial Readiness Training Program and covers the cost of the training.
The Manufacturing Managers Council of Northwest Louisiana applauds the production of programs that feed skilled workers into the local workforce.
“From the MMC’s perspective, developing programs that will produce qualified candidates for entry level manufacturing positions is vital to the continued growth of the manufacturing industry, currently the 5th largest employment sector in NWLA,” says Angie White with the North Louisiana Economic Partnership. “With recent announcements from Ronpak, Benteler Steel and Elio Motors, manufacturing should remain a leading employment sector in the region for the foreseeable future.”
Linda Sonnier, program director in BPCC’s Division of Technology, Engineering and Mathematics and who has been key in getting this program developed at BPCC, says all have an opportunity to work together to make a better workforce for NW Louisiana.
“It’s partnerships between BPCC, employers, Workforce Investment Boards and others that are the cornerstone for preparing students for future job opportunities.”
For more information on the Industrial Readiness Training Program, contact Linda Sonnier at (318) 678-6524 or lsonnier@bpcc.edu.
