Employee Training: Always a Smart Investment
posted on Tuesday, March 1, 2016 in
College News
As more and more Baby Boomers reach retirement, the need to recruit and retain new employees grows. Companies must look at not only hiring and training new workers, but investing in developing the next generation of leaders within their organizations.
Most business have long understood the importance of skilled workers, but recently there has been a shift in focus. As important as it is to hire the right people, it is equally important to provide the right training and develop the right skills to help employees – and your company – succeed.
I have worked in human resources and business development for more than 20 years and I’ve seen firsthand how providing the right training is crucial for growth, retention, and company success. A recent report from HR Magazine notes that businesses investing $1,500 or more per employee per year on training average 24 percent higher profit margins than companies with lower annual training investment. It’s a trend seen across industries. Since the end of the economic recession, investment in employee training nationwide has increased 25 percent.
I work with companies every day that embody this commitment to employee training and development. One of those companies is TDS Automation, a division of Doerfer Companies. Many of the products built by TDS are highly-specialized and unique to their clients.
“Each product TDS develops requires advanced technical abilities, and very often new skills must be acquired,” said John Carney, Technical Documentation and Training Coordinator for TDS. Whether building oil storage tanks or manufacturing heavy-lift transporters for NASA, TDS team members require diverse skills to meet their clients’ unique needs. Hawkeye has partnered with TDS for years to provide a variety of training services, including leadership, problem-solving, Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), hoist and crane safety, electrohydraulics, geometric dimensioning and tolerancing, fundamentals of fluid power, and more.
What we see at TDS Automation is a trend across the advanced manufacturing industry. Today’s manufacturing is more about innovation and problem-solving than ever before, and with that comes the need for continual training and development – not only to meet client demands, but to build and retain a skilled workforce.
“We’re looking for people with mechanical aptitude and problem solving skills. We are willing to train for our jobs,” said Kathryn Nuss, Chief Human Resources Officer for Doerfer Companies. “These are jobs you can support a family on. There are great careers in this industry for those with and without a four-year degree. The work is still here.”
For more information on customized training for your business, contact Hawkeye Business and Community Education at 319-296-4223 or visit Hawkeye's Corporate and Business Solutions.
Pam Wright, PHR, SHRM-CP, CCT, is the Director of Business and Community Outreach for Hawkeye Community College Business and Community Education
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