Employer Demand Leads to Food Manufacturing Production Certificate Offering from LTC

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

2/06/2013

CLEVELAND, WI —

More than 20 food manufacturers from Manitowoc and Sheboygan Counties provided input to Lakeshore Technical College on food manufacturing production safety, training and certification resulting in LTC offering a 12- credit Food Manufacturing Production Certificate beginning March 13.

“Employment in the food manufacturing industry in our area is expected to grow at three times the national average for food manufacturing workers,” says Tammy Flora, Vice President of Human Resources at Masters Gallery in Plymouth. ”Food production safety is of paramount importance and hiring skilled or trained staff is necessary to keep pace with growth. LTC's Food Manufacturing Production Certificate will help not only Masters Gallery but many other manufacturers and high-speed packaging businesses.”

The Food Manufacturing Production Certificate will provide the knowledge, skills and abilities essential to food production line workers in a variety of food manufacturing environments. Individuals will be introduced to sanitation, hazard analysis and critical control points, lean manufacturing principles, quality concepts and high speed packaging. Learning will be reinforced through hands on demonstrations, scenarios, and company visits. This certificate is recommended for current food production workers looking to expand their knowledge and skill and for those interested in seeking employment with food manufacturing firms.

“LTC's pattern of responsiveness to our local businesses continues with this offering,” says Dr. Michael Lanser, LTC President. “Our employer market surveys are telling us there will be 700 positions open in the next 4 years for trained food production workers. These are good entry level jobs with excellent employers that have a median wage of nearly $15 an hour.”

With classes such as Industrial Technician Packaging, Sanitation and Sterilization, Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points (HACCP), Lean Manufacturing and Execution Control, and Six Sigma Tools for Green Belts-- Measure & Analyze, students will receive a broad based overview of the food manufacturing production business and learn the latest industry standards for safety and efficiency.

The program will prepare students to work in food manufacturing facilities in positions such as production line technicians, machine and line operators, warehouse and stockroom workers. Students will also be qualified to perform elementary maintenance on line equipment, completing batch operations, applying sanitation and sterilization procedures, resolving food microbiology and sanitation issues, and using computers and applying quality techniques including statistical process control.
Students can register by calling 1.888.468.6582, extension 1366 or visit www.gotoltc.edu for more details.