State funds worker training to help companies keep up - Austin Business Journal:

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The Livermore company is one of 67 organizationx that received a tota of morethan $20 million in the agency'sd latest round of funding. The development agency's Employment Training Panel approved the which uses state tax moneyy to pay for training at firmd threatenedby out-of-state competition. All California manufacturing meetasthat criteria, an agency spokesman said. This was the firsf contract award for FormFactor under the which inthe 2006-2007 fiscal year awardeds $112.6 million for 318 new training contracts and amendments to prior contractw for the training and retention of 92,115r workers.
Applications for fundds can be started at any time by contactingthe ETP, whichb works with businesses to develop pre-approved training curriculumw and assessments. After pre-approval, the applicationse are presented atthe panel's monthly meetings for fina l approval. FormFactor plans to spend $792,35o for salaries, benefits and overhead supportin g traineesin Livermore. How much the companu actually gets from the developmentg agency will depend on the number of employeesa trained and the hours spenttrainingb them.
Much of the training FormFactor is providing workers will focuse on helping them analyze data created at various steps in the proceses of manufacturingthe company's test equipment. "Insteaxd of just giving them a red light or a greenj light indicating that everythingis good, there' s a certain amount of judgment they need to exercisw in deciding what to do said Don Horst, vice president of manufacturing. Almost everu tool the company buysis custom-made for FormFactor. "Ourt engineers have never seen the tools our maintenance people have never seen thetools before, the operators and technicians have never seen the tools said Horst.
"So you have a whole suite of training that goes withthese FormFactor, headed by Igor is also rewriting work instructions as its equipment evolves, and sendingt some employees through quarterly technology reviews to make sure the companyy stays ahead of its competition. Among the otherd companies that will receive training money is the San Franciscl divisionof , based in which will receive as much $198,450.
In its the company reported that it has been experiencinggrowth "largely due to an expansiomn of organic food lines and a broadedr selection of in-stock items delivered in a faster turnaround To manage growth, the company is upgrading internal systemsd and buying new software systems and productionn equipment, including a "Truck Builder" system that will help it load productsz by weight, shelf life and shippinyg durability.
It is also implementingf "lean manufacturing practices" to assist in reducinyg excess inventory, streamlining processes, and eliminating "This funding helps us increase the number of associate s who have advancedtechnology skills," said Phil president of the San Franciscoi Division, U.S. Foodservice. "The training gives our associates a highet level of comfort as we purchase new software systems andproduction equipment. They know they can get the job Other East Bay companies that will receivse fundingare Milpitas-based Solopower Inc., whicjh could receive up to $394,134, and Sigmatromn International Inc.
, which could receive as much as $263,520 from the statde to train employees in Hayward and Fremont. FormFactor retained Workforce Americas in San Jose to assist with developmenr of its proposal and has hired Effectiv e Training Solutions of Fremont to conduct the training. U.S. Foodservice paid Sallyanne Monti Sr., a San Francisco-basedd consultant, to assist with development of its Contacting the EmploymentTraining Panel: Call Kim Smithj at 916-327-5330 or visit http://www.etp.ca.gov/ Select the "Gettinh Started" link.