Bossier Parish Community College opens its doors to local manufacturing employers, Workforce Investment Boards, and government entities from 2-5 p.m. on Monday, Feb. 25.
Give them a first-hand glimpse of what the College’s new Industrial Readiness training course and skills assessment will provide for the area’s future workforce.
The Industrial Readiness Training Open House, held in Building F, Room 203, will give manufacturers an opportunity to see what BPCC offers students and how this new training course is designed to prepare those students for the needs of companies in Northwest Louisiana.
The training course will teach individuals soft skills like safety, communication and team-building and hard skills like basic mechanics and math; however, a unique component of the course is it is conducted on behalf of an employer and that employer will be able to assess the students while they go through the course. Industrial Readiness Training is a preview for the employer to see the skills and behaviors as the students learn them.
Attendees of the open house will hear presentations from John Churchill, program director from Southwest Tennessee Community College which implemented the same collaborative effort in Tennessee. Churchill will discuss Southwest Tennessee Community College’s program and how employers appreciate being able to see the individuals in a work environment prior to hiring them.
Also included in the open house presentation is a hands-on demonstration of training and assessment tool and curriculum by Stephen Berry of Scientific-Management Techniques, a global leader in "Hands On" Manufacturing Skills Assessment programs. The assessment machines use test aptitudes, determine a future employee’s skill level, and determine employee needs. Hiring costs will be reduced because employers are assured the person already has the skill set needed for the job.
BPCC Chancellor Jim Henderson says this assessment/training is just the beginning.
“BPCC is ready to meet all training needs for manufacturers with workforce training and education.”
Henderson adds, “Our goal with this opportunity is to better define employable candidates, and make them work-ready for entry level positions. We will work with the companies to meet specific education and training needs beyond basic skills and assessments.”
The Manufacturing Managers Council of Northwest Louisiana applauds the production of programs that feed skilled workers into the local workforce.
“From the MMC’s perspective, developing programs that will produce qualified candidates for entry level manufacturing positions is vital to the continued growth of the manufacturing industry, currently the 5th largest employment sector in NWLA,” says Angie White with the North Louisiana Economic Partnership. “With recent announcements from Ronpak, Benteler Steel and Elio Motors, manufacturing should remain a leading employment sector in the region for the foreseeable future.”
Linda Sonnier, program director in BPCC’s Division of Technology, Engineering and Mathematics and who has been key in getting this program developed at BPCC, says all have an opportunity to work together to make a better workforce for NW Louisiana.
“It’s partnerships between BPCC, employers, Workforce Investment Boards and others that are the cornerstone for preparing students for future job opportunities.”
For more information on the Industrial Readiness Open House or BPCC program, contact Linda Sonnier at (318) 678-6524 or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .
