AIM-EASTERN FLORIDA STATE COLLEGE INDUSTRY ADVISORY COUNCIL MEETING SUMMARY AND ACTION ITEMS MAY 4, 2017

EFSC Manufacturing Advisory Council Quarterly Meeting

Advancing In Manufacturing (AIM)

May 4, 2017

Meeting held at Bayside High School Manufacturing Academy, Palm Bay

 Overview:

CareerSource Brevard (CSB) and EFSC are committed to building a Manufacturing Sector Strategy by working directly with the manufacturing community to address the workforce challenges of Brevard’s employers. In collaboration with the EFSC Manufacturing Advisory Council, we are working together to provide relevant training and initiatives to identify and bridge the current and future manufacturing skills gaps in Brevard County. In order to grow the talent pipeline and upgrade the skills of current employees, stakeholders will need to collectively identify the current skills gaps and redesign training that is relevant and practical. This summary is a result of the EFSC/AIM Sector Strategy meeting held on May 4, 2017 attended by 47 manufacturers, education partners and supporting community organizations.

The purpose of this meeting was to report to the manufacturing community the current initiatives and the progress that has been made in the past three months as a result of the AIM Sector Strategy initiatives as identified and achieved by the manufacturers and community members working on various committees

.

Meeting highlights:

CareerSource Brevard, President Marci Murphy, shared the results of our skills focused trainings paid for by CareerSource Brevard grant funds to support the growth of the manufacturing talent pipeline this year.

Additionally Tina Berger, CSB AIM Program Manager shared the results of the recent Brevard Manufacturing

Skills survey. To review the Survey results visit: http://takeaimbrevard.com/2017/05/30/2017-brevardmanufacturing-skills-survey/

Elizabeth Huy, representing the EDC and the Manufacturing Assoc. of the Space Coast (MASC) gave association updates affecting our industry. She highlighted the partnership between MASC and Junior Achievement to engage students with manufacturers. She encouraged everyone to attend the Made in Brevard Expo on May 17. It is vitally important to support associations that work on behalf of our industry! If you are not a member please join!

Kevin Carr, CEO of FloridaMakes shared a Central Florida Manufacturing Sector profile that will help small and medium sized companies increase economic competiveness in their sector areas. This information was a joint effort between CareerSource Florida and the FloridaMakes sponsored Advanced Manufacturing Leadership Council to identify the challenges and priorities of rebuilding the manufacturing talent pipeline and increasing profitability. The full economic impact report on the manufacturing sector profiles for Central Florida is posted on www.takeaimbrevard.com.

The rest of the meeting was dedicated to the opening of the Bayside High School Manufacturing Academy. This is a significant and tangible result of the Sector Strategy initiatives to unify vision, mission and outcome of industry, educators, community and economic partners to expose high school students to career pathways in the manufacturing sector. Click here to see a video of the new Academy.      

 MANUFACTURING SECTOR STRATEGY GENERAL INFORMATION:

CareerSource Brevard Training Statistics Program Year 2016-17

EASTERN FLORIDA STATE COLLEGE (EFSC) UPDATES:  

• Prof. Meer Almeer, EFSC Associate Professor, asked the Manufacturing Advisory Council for input on adding additional Soldering Inspection; IPC 610 and IPC 620 courses into the Associate’s degree curriculum as elective credit courses. Currently these courses are offered as noncredit certificate programs. A Survey will be sent to manufacturers for feedback as required by the State to include these courses in the curriculum. Your feedback is critical and necessary to make these changes. Thank you in advance for responding to the survey.
• Congratulations and a sincere thank you to Frank Margiotta, who has accepted the position of Associate Provost at EFSC. Frank has led the AIM Education Committee for the past 18 months and will continue to be a partner in promoting vocational educational from for his new position. Good luck Frank!
• EFSC is working towards adding an evening Welding class in the fall to meet the local demand for Welders.
• EFSC responded to the critical need for Solders by offering four J-STD Soldering classes since January certifying 30 students. Nine students recently completed the IPC 610- Soldering Inspection class.

REMINDER: Take advantage of CareerSource Brevard’s ON THE JOB TRAINING FUNDS- These grant funds offset the cost of onboarding an eligible new hire.

• Average cost savings to an employer over $5000 but up to $9500 per eligible employee  Excellent opportunity to help offset the cost of hiring someone new.
• Every business has some form of training for new employees
• Show new employees you’re invested by offering training
• Reimbursement on average takes 15 days – can be monthly or at the end of the training
• Contact CareerSource Brevard to learn more

Subcommittee Reports: Additional volunteers are needed. Get involved and make your voice heard on issues affecting the talent gap and skills challenges facing manufacturers.

Education Mapping and Career Pathways Subcommittee: (These two committees have been combined.) 

• Janice Scholz, Brevard Public Schools, Director of Career and Technical Programs hopes to continue growing the CTE manufacturing curriculum in Brevard. She asks that manufacturing companies get involved in the development of curriculum and advise on current and upcoming workforce training needs.

• Manufactures can help by visiting classes and speaking to students and hosting manufacturing facility tours. This year, students in the Bayside Manufacturing Academy toured the following companies: Knights Armament, Larsen Motorsports, Hallcraft Machining and Embraer. These tours give students exposure and insight into career opportunities.
• CareerSource Brevard, Brevard Public Schools and Eastern Florida State College have worked together to create a Machinist Career Pathway with articulation agreements to bridge credits between high school and college programs. HS student can earn up to 33 credits that can applied to an Engineering Associate degree saving students $104 per credit hour.

• New this summer, EFSC will be offering an Introduction to Welding Technology and Blueprint Reading program for entry level Welders. Class details, dates and costs are in planning at this time.
• A Composite Fabrication Subcommittee is being formed to address the talent shortage in this sector. If your companies is experiencing staffing challenges please plan to participate as industry voice drives the Committee agendas. Please contact Tina Berger, CareerSource Brevard, 321-3940515 or at [email protected] for more information on joining this Subcommittee.

Machinist Apprenticeship: Space Coast Machinist Apprenticeship Program will be starting their 21^st Program year!  Apprentice candidates must have host companies to participate. The program starts in August of every year, please contact Dr. Jones if you would like to sponsor an apprentice. The AIM grant can provide 6 months of on the job training funds to employers who sponsor eligible apprentices. To find out more information about this time honored skills building program contact Dr. Alice Jones, SCMAP Program Director at (321) 254-8278 or email at [email protected]

Youth Summer Internships: The 2017 High School Summer Internship program will begin on June 26. Thank you to Mainstream Engineering, Knights Armament and MC Assembly for sponsoring this program.

Sector Strategy Results:

• CareerSource Brevard and EFSC and Brevard Public Schools are working together to create an Introductory Welding course that will be offered this summer at the Cocoa campus.
• This summer we have 8 high school manufacturing intern positions being offered.

85 students are enrolled in the Bayside HS Manufacturing Academy in the first program year (Freshman- Senior). 50 students have already enrolled to continue the program next year. Classes will focus on CPT, CNC Machining, Welding and Soldering skills. The students and teacher Mary McCarthy, told the attendees how the Academy is affecting their future career paths.

• CSB and EDC cohosted a recruiting event for CPT graduates in April. 12 employers and 32 students participated. If you are in need of entry level employees these candidates are ready to work! Contact your CSB Business Liaison for more information.
• CSB completed the 2017 Brevard Manufacturing Skills Gap survey. Click her to review full survey.
• EFSC and CareerSource staff created a Composite Fabrication Skills Survey and sent to relevant companies for comment. We are forming a Subcommittee to accelerated basic skills training for entry level positions. We are looking for Subcommittee members!
• Visit the CareerSource Brevard manufacturing website www.takeaimbrevard.com for industry updates and survey results. The website serves the manufacturing community and all are invited to view and post items of interest in the Forums and on the Community Calendar.
• CareerSource Brevard has been working with FloridaMakes and GrowFL to provide programs, webinars and information on resources available to small and medium sized manufactures to increase profitability.

Next Steps:

• EFSC is looking for internship opportunities for students. Business applications are currently being accepted. Contact Meer Almeer: [email protected] for more information.
• Composite Fabrication Subcommittee Members Committee members needed. It is never too late to join in the conversation. If you are interested in participating on a committee please contact Tina Berger at CareerSource Brevard at [email protected]. Recurring monthly dates have been scheduled for each subcommittee.
• Finalize class syllabus for the Introduction to Welding Technology to be offered this summer at EFSC for entry level employees. This course will focus on safety, welding symbols, blueprint reading and limited hands-on welding experience.
• Bayside High School Manufacturing Academy is looking for manufacturers to join an Industry Advisory Council which will meet twice a year to assist with curriculum development relevant to industry needs. Contact Dennis Soboleski at [email protected] for more information.
• CareerSource will post upcoming industry trainings available to manufacturing employees and career seekers on the new www.takeaimbrevard.com website for regional manufacturing updates.
• Let us hear from you if you have hiring or training needs!For additional information or interest in joining a Subcommittee, please contact Tina Berger, Manufacturing Sector Strategy Program Manager 321-394-0515 or [email protected].
• Next EFSC/AIM Sector Strategy Meeting: September (date and location to be confirmed).