HOW CAN CLARION UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA SUPPORT THE REGION, EMPLOYERS, AND STUDENTS IN ORDER TO MEET EMERGING AND CHANGING WORKFORCE NEEDS IN THE PETROCHEMICAL AND PLASTICS INDUSTRIES

[摘要] The manufacturing industry is faced with a growing challenge in recruiting and retaining a skilled labor force with the education and skills needed to perform high-demand jobs. The plastic and petrochemical industries are a facing these same challenges but are experiencing an additional hardship in finding applicants and potential employees with skill specific training tomeet their unique needs as it relates to the process and production utilizing plastic and petrochemical resources and materials.The purpose of this Action Research study was to identify general and specific education and training skills as defined by Polymer Molding Inc., Komatsu Limited, Onex Corporation, Franklin Manufacturing and Powder Coat Company, GeorgeKo Industries, Specialty Fabricationand Powder Coating, Electralloy Division, Schaal Glass, Essentra, and Hamill Manufacturing to assist in the development and delivery of competency-based programs.In addition, inquiry questions were designed to determine current initiatives within industry, economic and workforce development, and higher education, to offer recommendations for program development and further collaboration amongst all stakeholders.Findings identified three comprehensive categories in addressing the education and training needs of the future labor force. The categories include: 'community workforce and economic development”, 'skills training”, and 'labor force characteristics”. As a result of the findings collaborative efforts are in effect to develop training programs that meet employers’needs.

[发布机构] the University of Pittsburgh