Group works to enhance industry
If there's one thing we've learned during the past year, it's this: It's pretty tough to network on the computer.
Ask Phil Anderson, director of production at Butler Technologies and co-chairman of the Tri-County Manufacturing Consortium, an organization that brings together employees and owners of manufacturing companies within the tricounty area.
This past year hasn't been easy for its members to meet, but with things opening up again, Anderson said it's time to begin plant visits again.
Those visits are important because they speak directly to the mission of the consortium and to life here in Butler County.
“We recognize that the sharing of knowledge, the sharing of best practices, it's just going to ensure that the foundation of manufacturing in Butler County stays here, to keep good jobs here,” Anderson said.
“It's just a great community, great schools, great place to raise a family. I get that out of the Manufacturing Consortium that as long as we can help each other out, we're always going to provide those jobs and keep that sense of community and culture that we have here in Butler County.”
The consortium is comprised of manufacturers from Armstrong, Butler and Indiana counties, and it's not just owners. Employees may also join.
With a membership of about 45, the group wants to add more members because it recognizes that manufacturing is booming in Western Pennsylvania, and with membership numbers comes strength in the form of more and better work-related solutions, a broader knowledge base, more resources and a louder voice when the group lobbies at state and federal levels.
“Sometimes small manufacturers don't necessarily have a voice with our legislators, but when we get together as a consortium, there are numbers. That's also part of our mission, having a government voice,” Anderson said.
For Anderson, however, it's the networking that he finds so important and fruitful.
Among the places with which the group networks are area high schools. They present programs on what they do and explore employment possibilities with students who may or may not be heading to college.
Recently, the consortium has begun to develop a relationship with the Butler County Area Vocational- Technical School.
“We are actually in the process of hiring three students who are graduating this year, and we're going to take one junior and bring him in as a co-op,” Anderson said. “If I had not been part of the consortium, that would not have benefitted Butler Technologies.
“It's just creating those relationships in the community and here we are, right? Three kids who are coming out of high school and weren't really sure what they were going to do and they're going to roll right into three good-paying jobs.”
A third benefit of membership is that the members sometimes host training sessions on topics related to the workplace, such as human resource policies or lean manufacturing.
The consortium meets once a month over the internet and is overseen by Mary Salony, assistant director of the Tri-County Workforce Investment Board. She is the one who sends out the links for the meetings and is the person to reach out to for membership. She has seen firsthand what the consortium can do.“Manufacturing as a whole brings a lot of money into the county, but just this consortium itself (brings a lot) into our three counties,” Salony said. “Since 2005, we have trained 1,507 workers with funding from the partnership.“We have brought in $1.8 million in grant money, and the manufacturers themselves have matched this grant money with another $2 million.”Some of the many projects the consortium has worked on since its inception in 2005 include pre-apprenticeship programs, working with inmates at the local jails, and videos and billboard campaigns to promote careers.When Anderson took on the co-chairman position, he knew he wanted to work with the schools, the vo-tech and young people because that's where his passion lies. It's part of what the consortium does. He calls it hope.“It's not your father's manufacturing anymore. Not everything is dirty, gritty, greasy and grimy. There are cool things going on right here in our backyard and it's amazing when you get out there and see the things that are made right here. It's exciting and there are opportunities for you,” Anderson said.Butler County Business Matters is a monthly publication focusing on business, industry and manufacturing. The August issue will feature milestones and legacies.
