An alliance between TAFE NSW – Hunter Institute and business consultancy Asset Capability Management (ACM) to provide Competitive Manufacturing training is set to benefit local truck and excavator manufacturer Hitachi Construction Machinery (Australia).
Hunter Institute has worked with local business and training consultants ACM to design a training package to improve Hitachi’s productivity and skill levels at their operations in Muswellbrook in the Upper Hunter.
The pilot, which began in November 2007, will run for a year and see 90 employees undertake training based on the Competitive Manufacturing Training Package. It is proposed that the program be extended to Hitachi’s 17 other branches and a further 500 employees around the country in the future.
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Want productivity gains through workforce capability improvements? |
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Look to TAFE NSW for holistic workforce development services. |
ACM undertook extensive surveying of Hitachi’s customers and staff to assess areas including plant and equipment maintenance and operation, and existing employee skills.
Craig Hutchison, Marketing Director, ACM, said that competency gaps had been identified and were being addressed in conjunction with Hunter Institute. ‘There is a good mesh between our consultancy services and TAFE NSW’s delivery of the training,’ Mr Hutchison said.
Rob Wolter, Faculty Director of Industry and Natural Resources, Hunter Institute, said this specialised approach to industry allows the Institute to directly meet the client’s needs.
‘We know our training will be effective because it is based on sound research of the organisation and targets productivity gains through improvements in workforce capability,’ he said. ‘Together we can help businesses make some big differences to their systems and skill levels, and therefore offer a greatly improved level of customer service to industries in the Hunter region.’
David Harvey, Operations Director, Hitachi, has high hopes for the training program and its business benefits. ‘We see this as a great opportunity to continually improve our capability and to deliver on dynamic customer needs,’ he said.
