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MMPA NEWSLETTER - January 2004
Read our previous issues:
PrecisionWorks Project Accomplishments
Since its inception in July of 2001, the PrecisionWorks (formerly MetalWorks) Project has developed a career pipeline for the precision manufacturing sector, providing specialized skills training, job development, placement services, and opportunities for advancement for both employed and unemployed workers. In addition, the project has focused on building bridges among service providers and employers that can live on after the project is ended.
Some of the PrecisionWorks accomplishments include having:
- Sample training includes machining at various levels, blueprint reading, AutoCAD, refresher math, Spanish, American Sign Language, computer skills at various levels
- Establishing the Maine Workforce Development Coalition, a group of economic development and workforce development service providers from around the state, who seek to enhance collaboration, develop partnerships, share best practices, and develop joint initiatives around Maine
- Convening the PrecisionWorks Consortium, a group of employers and training service providers in the precision manufacturing industry, who have served as an advisory group for the implementation of the PrecisionWorks grant
- Implementing a Memorandum of Understanding among CareerCenters and PrecisionWorks staff on processes for collaboration on projects across regional boundaries
- Delivering training in collaboration with local Community Colleges, Vocational-Technical Centers, and Adult Education programs
Letter from the President
Happy New Year! I trust everyone had a fun and relaxing holiday season? In 2003 we took the time to develop strategies for the association, look at what the needs are of members and created programs and services to move us forward. Starting with the board retreat, MMPA has put five new benefit programs in place for members. Please be sure to take advantage of the programs. They are there for you to utilize! We have also teamed up to bring economic opportunities to members. The New England Manufacturing Supply Chain allows you to register to obtain federal defense contracts. All you do is register! There is no guarantee of getting contracts immediately. The Maine Industry Association, comprised of several industry associations, is teaming up to develop "intra-state supply chain" among various Maine industries in need of suppliers. The board and staff at MMPA are looking forward to 2004. We have some great tours lined up starting with Emergency Vehicles of Maine (EVM) in Auburn and Butler Bros. in Lewiston on January 24th. Bet you didn't know that EVM builds fire trucks? Come and see how it's done and listen to some heartfelt stories from the fire fighters industry.
New memberships are on the rise (see MMPA resource page)! Please check out new members and if looking to sub work, call them first! We are still experiencing loss of members. MMPA is supporting and working with the federal delegation to support Association Health Plan legislation (see www.maine-metals.org). We are doing what we can to bring affordable health care to our members. In closing, I want to thank all of you for supporting your association. If you know of one company that is not a member, ask them to join. Lisa and the staff will provide the best programs and services to help companies prosper and grow!
We look forward to seeing you at our meetings and events!
Bob King
MMPA Board President
MMPA Member Company Profile
Emergency Vehicles of Maine
Member Since 2001
"Fire Trucks and Apparatus"
Emergency Vehicles of Maine
Member Since 2001
"Fire Trucks and Apparatus"
Emergency Vehicles of Maine, Inc. is a New England manufacturer fabricating a variety of fire trucks and apparatus including pumper trucks, fire trucks, and support vehicles. These apparatus are marketed under the EVM Fire Apparatus name.EVM offers bodies manufactured from aluminum extrusions and plate, tubular steel, and polypropylene. Each of the bodies is custom designed to meet customers' exact needs.
Since EVM started manufacturing complete vehicles, they have produced mini-pumpers and brush trucks, custom and commercial pumpers, including a compressed air foam pumper, several rescues of different styles, and tankers and pumper/tankers carrying up to 3300 gallons of water. EVM offers a wide range of options on all their apparatus, including Waterous pumps, ProPoly water tanks with lifetime warranties, Harrison PTO driven hydraulic generators up to 30kW, Honda generators, FoamPro foam systems, Code 3 and Whelen lighting, Class 1 electrical systems, Akron and Elkhart valves and appliances, and ROM and Gortite roll-up doors.
In 1998 Emergency Vehicles of Maine, Inc became the dealer for Ferrara Fire Apparatus, Inc, in Maine, New Hampshire, and Northeastern Massachusetts. Ferrara manufactures the finest quality apparatus built today, offering a wide array of apparatus including pumpers, aerials, rescues and tankers.Whether you are purchasing a new apparatus built by Emergency Vehicles of Maine, Inc., having an older truck refurbished in their facility, having major repair work performed, or some minor repair work done, every truck receives the same highest standard of quality care and attention to detail.
Contact info:
Ed Pollard
Emergency Vehicles of Maine, Inc
250 Broad Street
Auburn, ME 04210
Phone: 207-782-6400
Fax: 207-782-1471
E-mail: ed@evmfire.com
Web: www.evmfire.com
MMPA Resource Page
Job Seeker's Corner This month MMPA has 10 job opening on our website. For job details, contact information, and an up-to-date selection, see our job posting board at www.maine-metals.org/jobpost.html TO EMPLOYERS: E-mail jobs to post on-line on the MMPA website to fill any open positions within your company !! Welcome Corner
MMPA would like to welcome the following new members to the association: Maine Maritime Academy Water Street, Rogers Hall Castine, ME 04420 phone: 207-326-2390 fax: none e-mail: rgiffin@mma.edu website: www.mma.edu contact: Robert Giffin Eastman Industries 87 Bell Street Portland, ME 04103 phone: 207-878-5353 fax: 207-878-9109 e-mail: info@hovermower.com website: www.hovermower.com contact: Nick Nikazmerad Striker International PO Box 836 Oxford, ME 04270 phone: 207-743-5550 fax: 207-743-5222 e-mail: badams@strikerintl.com contact: Beth Adams Biotech Association of Maine 150 Capitol Street Augusta, ME 04332 phone: 207-623-3800 fax: 207-596-2852 e-mail: ctimberlake@capitolinsights.com website: www.mainebiotech.org contact: Cheryl Timberlake |
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Good News from SMCC
John Bolduc joins the staff at Southern Maine Community College where as department chair. He will have the responsibility of revitalizing the Integrated Manufacturing Technology program. John started his metal career at Lewiston Regional Technical Center, where he received the first MMPA scholarship to attend Central Maine Vocational Institute. He went on to work for several companies such as O'Brien Consolidated Industries, Philips Elmet, and Mountain Machine Works. John recently completed his bachelor of science degree at the University of Southern Maine and had his lab at Mid-Maine Technical Center, which become the first National Institute for Metalworking Skills (NIMS) training facility in the state.
For the last several years John has worked to educate hundreds of students entering the field and now working all over the state in various metal related positions. He has taught for LRVC, WHSS, MMTC, CMCC, KVCC, and Project Metal Works and now heads the program at Southern Maine Community College.
John plans to update the Integrated Manufacturing Technology program at SMCC with the help of an advisory committee from companies across Southern Maine. The program has already restarted welding training and NIMS skill training for his students.
For more information or to be get involved in the program development please call John at Southern Maine Community College at (207-741-5602) or email jbolduc@smcc.edu
First Target Incubator Graduate
Moves To Ellsworth
Moves To Ellsworth
Foxtech Design, Inc., the first company to take wing from the University of Maine Target Technology Incubator in Orono, has opened an office in Ellsworth. Foxtech specializes in computer aided design (CAD) and serves the automotive, aerospace, medical and consumer products industries.
Foxtech owner Scott Cromwell started his company in Michigan in 1997 and moved to Maine in 2003. A resident of Blue Hill, he has continued to serve his clients online while working with development specialists and UMaine to generate new business opportunities.
"As the CAD service market is growing, I expect to use student resources for designers and engineers," Cromwell says.
At UMaine, he has worked with the Advanced Manufacturing Center and Fogler Library. He has also received business mentoring through the Maine Small Business Development Center and participated in the Maine Tech Show in Augusta and the governor's trade mission to Ireland.
"I found business prospects and vendors (in Ireland)," says Cromwell, "and will be developing these relationships in the months to come. Many contacts were also made at the universities and I look forward to keeping in touch about new developments in engineering and manufacturing." Debbie Neuman, Target Technology Incubator director, praises Cromwell's technical skills and expects the company to grow. "We will continue to monitor his progress and assist him with the on-going challenges of operating a business. I am confident years from now, he will be a growing and successful Maine company," she says.
According to the Foxtech Website (www.foxtech3d.com), the company creates "highly detailed, accurate, and stylized 3D computer models for product and tooling designs of prototype and production parts. The types of parts include plastic injected, sheetmetal stampings, hydraforming, and castings."
Neuman notes that research based start-ups take an average of three years to become self-sufficient. "That is what we are working towards with every tenant of the Incubator, graduation as businesses in the community, armed with the knowledge, resources and connections they need to be successful," she says.
Contacts:
Scott Cromwell, Foxtech Design, Inc., 207-664-0720, scott@foxtech3d.com
Debbie Neuman, Target Technology Incubator, 207-866-3565, dneuman@maine.edu
Nick Houtman, UMaine Dept. of Public Affairs, 207-581-3777, houtman@maine.edu
Maine Economic Research Institute
MERI's efforts are focused on gathering and disseminating information about legislative issues and the voting records of Maine's elected officials on bills identified as critically important to Maine's economic future. The MERI methodology is a tested model operating in 23 states across the country and rooted in the basic business concepts of accountability and performance review. MERI subscribers believe the absence of an accountability process and reporting system for our legislators has resulted in the current non-competitive business environment in Maine. MERI's methodology is one of the most accurate processes for determining support for Maine's economy and business environment by state legislators. The methodology is post on MERI's website (www.me-ri.org) and is published in its Interim Report on the 121st Maine State Legislature.
MERI conducts briefings statewide and sends a "Weekly Brief" Email to our subscribers and to various business groups on key economic and legislative issues. Call 622-9075 to schedule a MERI Briefing in your area or learn how to receive the Weekly Brief.
The Maine Economic Research Institute (MERI) is an independent, private, not-for-profit corporation governed by a board of directors who are business owners, CEOs, and senior staff representing a diverse group of Maine companies. Incorporated in 1999, MERI is dedicated to improving Maine's business environment by providing objective information to enhance economic policy-making. To learn more about how MERI conducts nonpartisan research and tracks legislator performance on critical business issues, please visit www.me-ri.org.
(MMPA will be bringing you more information about the valuable work that MERI is involved with in the months to come.)
Formal vs. Informal Learning
in the Workplace
in the Workplace
Did you know, research suggests that…
- " … 70% of what people know about their jobs, they learn informally from people they work with…" [Dobbs, K. "Simple Moments of Learning." Training 35, no. 1 (January 2000): 52-58]
- …dating back over half a century ago, informal learning has been increasingly considered the fundamental way a workforce acquires information and develops new skills and abilities.
- "Investments in training are limited almost exclusively to formal learning programs, with the greater proportion of investments (81%) allocated to classroom-based instructor-led programs. [from "1997 Industry Report: What Employers Teach" , Training (October 1997]
And yet…
Is anyone suggesting that we should avoid formal learning or training? No one recommends this! Informal learning is best viewed as supplementary to formal learning, not a replacement to traditional educational and training opportunities. As with many real life issues, it is a question of balancing rather than either/or choices. Just be aware that learning takes place during the workday all around us all the time, not only in pre-scheduled, topic-specific learning modules.
PrecisionWorks
Maine Metal Products
Association
Copyright © 2003 - 2004 MMPA, Inc.
All related marks, content, material and logos are trademarks of MMPA, Inc.
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
Copyright © 2003 - 2004 MMPA, Inc.
All related marks, content, material and logos are trademarks of MMPA, Inc.
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.