Creating Jobs Through Worker Training

DOES WORKFORCE INVESTMENT WORK?

ASK PIONEER PUMP...

In 2009, Pioneer Pump, in Canby, Oregon, turned to the Workforce Investment Council of Clackamas County (WICCO), its Local Workforce Investment Board, for help. Recent growth in the mining and oil extraction industries was fueling worldwide demand for pumps. The company needed to position itself by improving productivity and reducing waste. It was impressed with the results other companies achieved with lean enterprise training. But transitioning to lean is a major expense, and Pioneer Pump wasn't sure it could afford to invest.

WICCO provided $50,000 in matching Employer Workforce Training Funds over a two year period to help Pioneer Pump hire the Oregon Manufacturing Extension Partnership to train staff for a "lean transformation." As a result of the training, workers standardized operating procedures, reduced waste and increased production. The result was spectacular.

Since 2009, Pioneer Pump has doubled its workforce to more than 80 employees, with plans to hire more. It grew from $12 million per year in income to an anticipated $55 to $60 million by the end of 2011. An expansion will add 43,000 square feet of production space to its facilities in Canby and create jobs in the hard hit construction industry.

"I won't say we haven't been fortunate with the marketplace. We have. But we've been able to scale the business based on the things we learned," states Paul Schlumpberger, Vice President, Pioneer Pump, Canby, OR

"The success of Pioneer Pump speaks to the power of private public partnerships," states Kim Parker, Executive Director of WICCO.

Does Workforce Investment Work? A public investment of $50,000 match by Pioneer Pump led to more than $60 million in new revenues, more than 40 new jobs, and a big construction project - creating even more jobs in Oregon. If you're still wondering whether Workforce investment Works, ask Pioneer Pump.

Category:

News & Politics

Tags:

• Oregon Workforce Partnership
• Pioneer Pump
• Canby
• workforce training
• Creating jobs
• skilled workforce
• growing the economy
• lean manufacturing