Solutions for Business
Workforce Training
November 2005 - York County Community College signed an agreement with Pratt & Whitney to provide training and education for Pratt & Whitney, a training program made possible through a grant provided by the Maine Quality Centers. This program will provide Pratt & Whitney the opportunity for workforce enhancement through training received from York County Community College, based on their objective of increasing plant productivity and efficiency through increased skill sets.
Under the Maine Quality Centers training program, York County Community College will administer, manage and provide training that Pratt & Whitney will need due to changing work requirements, and the project will be funded by a MQC grant awarded to Pratt & Whitney based on their needs, as well as their opportunities. YCCC will provide training for Pratt & Whitney in the areas of Manufacturing Operations & Production, which includes areas such as blueprint reading, mathematics, communication, decision-making, and quality control.
“Pratt & Whitney has been a partner of York County Community College since we opened our doors, and we’re very thankful that they have remained in such strong support of the College and its efforts since the beginning,” stated Paulette Millette, Director of the Continuing Education & Business Services Department. “Being able to do this for them is part of our mission here at the College. Assisting in the business development and company growth for Pratt & Whitney helps to develop the workforce within our local community, and that’s what YCCC is here to do.”
MQC funding will help Pratt & Whitney to increase their workforce by 55, training them as assemblers, bench mechanics, machine operators, parts inspectors and welders under the contract, which extends October 2005 – June 2006. The additional workforce will increase the plant’s output capabilities, thereby improving the plant’s competitive position as well as affording the opportunity for growth to the local community. It will also enable them to compete with other plants of similar size and resources, such as those in Eastern Europe and China, which will in turn help to diversify the workload and provide a more stable workflow for the local plant.