TUSCALOOSA, AL – Phifer, Inc. gets excellent results from the augmented Ready to Work Program provided by Shelton State Community College (SSCC). 

“We are in our second year of hiring exclusively through the Ready to Work Program,” explained Russell Dubose, Human Resource Employment Manager for Phifer, Inc.  “We can honestly say that the program has improved our hiring process.  As a matter of fact, our attrition rate for 2008 was less than 9%.  That is the best retention rate we have had since 1992.”

Ready to Work is a five-week pre employment program that prepares workers seeking high skills and better paying manufacturing or technical careers.  SSCC augmented Ready to Work with the Anytime, Anywhere Amatrol e-Learning Program developed by the West Alabama – East Mississippi (WAEM) Regional Initiative. 

Dubose said Ready to Work (RTW) “has improved the hiring process by validating skills through WorkKeys assessments and teaching manufacturing skills through Amatrol such as precision measurement and statistical process control. In addition, RTW validates desire and motivation by measuring punctuality and attendance and provides instruction in workplace behavior and conflict resolution.  By combining hard and soft skill instruction, RTW, has prepared new employees for the rigors of 21st century manufacturing in a LeanSixSigma environment.”      

“Amatrol opens many doors for pre and post-employment training,” Dubose added.  “Our goal is to expand Amatrol training to the current legacy workforce as we prepare employees for technical jobs.”

The Ready to Work program has been a part of the Workforce Development Center for the past five years.  SSCC designed a pre-employment program that aids Phifer in the selection process of potential employees.  Phifer has been working with SSCC since January 2006.

 “We have formed a powerful partnership with Phifer that allows our RTW program to train individuals for entry-level positions,” stated George Pratt, Assistant Director of Workforce Development at SSCC.  “Phifer is ahead of the curve when it comes to pre- employment training as they take the time to recruit and identify candidates that have the potential for a successful career in contemporary manufacturing.”

“We are currently designing training and selection programs for technical positions and the Anytime, Anywhere Amatrol e-Learning System is our cornerstone.  We will implement two “proof of principle” training programs this spring with Amatrol serving as our distance-learning component.”

The Anytime, Anywhere Amatrol e-Learning System consists of approximately 500 industry-proven  training modules that can be delivered as virtual modules on-line or as enhancements to instructor-led training. 
The WAEM Regional Initiative is a three-year workforce transformation project funded through a grant from the U.S. Department of Labor and the Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs.  SSCC is one of eight Alabama and Mississippi community colleges participating in the initiative.