Michael J. Lupey Jr. Testimony
TESTIMONY
Michael J. Lupey Jr.
Ames True Temper
Industry Partnership
Pennsylvania House of Representatives
February 24, 2010
Michael J. Lupey, Jr.
Ames True Temper
1500 S. Cameron St
Harrisburg, PA 17104
717-231-7892
Michael.Lupey@AmesTrueTemper.com
Good Morning.
Thank you Chairman Belfanti and the other members of the Labor Relations Committee for the invitation to share the view of Ames True Temper and the South Central Advanced Materials and Diversified Manufacturing Steering Committee regarding Industry Partnership Funding. Our Industry Partnership is a working group within the South Central Workforce Investment Board. I am here to testify in support of House Bill 2230.
For the record, my name is Michael Lupey, Technical Service Manager for Ames True Temper.
As a member of the South Central Advanced Materials and Diversified Manufacturing Steering Committee, let me begin by describing our Industry Partnership. Our IP includes more than 120 companies, 11 union groups, and a large number of training and community partners located in the nine counties of south central Pennsylvania. These include Adams, Cumberland, Dauphin, Franklin, Juniata, Lancaster, Lebanon, Perry, and York Counties. Our IP includes companies of various sizes, industry sectors, and training needs. Through the efforts of our IP, we have trained more than 1,535 people in the past two years at a cost well below market levels. Our IP employers have contributed more than $2.6 million in cash and in-kind contributions in the past two years.
This program works because employers are the decision makers. Employers contribute both cash and in-kind funding far greater than the grants received. Employers are the decision makers of what training and who the trainers are. Employers make sure that the quality of training is adequate and the program works. This is a true partnership between government and business.
I’d like to spend a few minutes discussing the specific input of my company, Ames True Temper.
I’ve been employed with Ames True Temper (ATT) for 15 years and hold several U.S. patents. We are the world’s largest manufacturer of Non –Powered Lawn and Garden tools. We employ nationwide 1,199 employees, 998 of them work in Pennsylvania. In Pennsylvania, we have 4 manufacturing plants, Harrisburg, Camp Hill, Lewistown, Union City and 1.1 million square ft. warehouse located in Carlisle, Pennsylvania. We have Union and Non-Union plants operating in the state.
Ames True Temper has been involved with two sub clusters, the Dauphin County Maintenance Consortium and South Central PA Manufacturing Training Partnership Sub Cluster for 3 years. Just in the past two years, we have saved more than $40,000 by participating in training programs sponsored by our Industry Partnership group.
Our standard Wheelbarrow cost from 1988 to 2010 has only increased 3.5%. We achieved this by operating on a “JIT” Just in Time methodology versus single part bulk production runs, paint, pack and ship at a later date. We manufacture and ship 10,000 wheelbarrows daily in two 8 hour shifts. We process over 400,000 lbs. of raw material daily. The need to sustain production rates requires Predictive and Exact Maintenance. This requires a continued commitment towards employee training.
We have a need to automate to remain competitive in today’s market. As we add Robots and PLC logics to automate and update our controls to meet OSHA and NFPA 70E standards to our older presses, we have created a need to educate our senior Millwrights and press operators as well as the younger employees coming into the work force. The average age of our work force is 48 years old.
In 1997 we (ATT) developed and implemented a Pennsylvania State approved “Tool & Die Maker” apprenticeship program and most recently began rewriting the curriculum for our Millwright apprenticeship program to meet today’s technology. We presently have one (1) active tool & Die maker apprentice. He is 52 yrs. old and will graduate in 2012. We, like the other companies in our IP, are committed to training our workforce.
We are continually training our Senior Millwrights and need to train the Junior Technicians. We train our skill craftsman in the trades, safe work habits and also how to educate and mentor other employees from their experiences. While many of our competitors have slashed training budgets, the IP initiative has provided ATT with a competitive edge.
The Industry Partnership initiative has created a win-win-win scenario. The first win is the employee. By continually upgrading the skills of our workforce, employees are more valuable to the employer. The second win is the employer. By combining state grant funding, with employer cash and in-kind contributions, and multi-employer work groups, we have been able to negotiate significant cost reductions for training classes. The third win is the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Pennsylvania wins by maintaining a skilled workforce and a close working relationship with employers.
I personally, on more than one occasion, have been thanked by the employees for the continuous education that we, ATT, and the Consortiums provide. This education not only helps the company stay competitive in the manufacturing world and market place, but also increases employee morale which affects safety, efficiencies’ and insurance costs.
Ames True Temper and the South Central Advanced Materials and Diversified Manufacturing Steering Committee strongly urge each of you to support the Industry Partnership program
Thank you again for allowing me to speak on behalf of my employer and the AMDM Steering committee.
I would be happy to answer any questions.