Page 24 - MetalForming December 2012

Honoring Metalforming Excellence
training program is to guide and sup- port the entire team with the tools and infrastructure necessary to help the company focus on customer, employ- ee and shareholder satisfaction. The firm expects the program to help devel- op its next generation of managers and skilled team members.
All Diemasters employees partici- pate in the training series. Each hour of training is worth a designated number of points. Levels of training achieve- ment include Trainee, The Diemasters Productivity System Practitioner, Green and Black Belts, and Bottleneck Blaster—the highest achievement. As a result of the program, the firm expects to retain a talent pool excited about their work, motivated to advance and looking to develop personally and professionally.
The Training and Education Award, sponsored by HPL Stampings, Inc., Lake Zurich, IL, in memory of A.R. (Ray) Hedberg, a leader in employee training, recognizes an outstanding achieve- ment by a PMA member company in employee technical education through a comprehensive training program. Diemasters will present its $1500 cash prize to an educational institution that provides coursework directly enhanc- ing metalforming technology.
Excellence as an
Educational Institution
Orleans/Niagara Career and Technical Education Center (OCTEC)
OCTEC, Medina, NY, received the 2012 Clips & Clamps Industries Edu- cational Institution Award for its out- standing Precision Machine Technolo- gy (PMT) program. Under the direction of instructor William Rakonczay, the primary focus of the program is “jobs, jobs and jobs.” Students—currently 24 seniors and 25 juniors—come to OCTEC at the beginning of their junior year. By the end of their senior year, they are expected to be ready for the workforce with, at the very least, good entry-level skills. The program is a mix of theory work and hands-on practice —roughly 2 hours of practical work per hour of classroom instruction. In addi- tion to technical knowledge and prac- tical skills, students must demonstrate organizational skills, responsibility, good attendance, a positive work ethic and all of the attributes that make a good employee.
More than 50 percent of the stu- dents in the class achieve National Institute of Metalworking Skills (NIMS) certification each year. The OCTEC
PMT program is the only secondary program in New York certified by NIMS. Articulation agreements also have been forged with Erie Community College, Monroe Community College and Gene- see Community College, through which students may choose to earn college credits.
Successful students are rewarded by working in “capstone” placements at local companies. Seventy-five percent of seniors are successfully placed in work-study programs each year. In addition, this summer five juniors worked in internships at local compa- nies and were part of OCTEC’s fall co- op program.
The Educational Institution Award, sponsored by Clips & Clamps Indus- tries, Plymouth, MI, recognizes a pub- lic or private educational institution that provides outstanding training and education services to companies in the metalforming industry. The award is funded by the Dul Foundation. MF
Are You a Winner?
Stake your claim to fame by submitting an entry for PMA’s 2013 Awards of Excellence in Metalforming. It’s your chance to recognize employees, have your company recognized within your industry, and let your customers— and potential customers—know what you bring to the table. Visit www.pma.org/awards to see details about each award, or contact Christie Carmigiano at 216/901- 8800 or ccarmigiano@ pma.org for more information.

22 MetalForming/December 2012
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