Learning to be lean

WINSTED — Seventeen employees from three local companies successfully completed a new certificate program in lean manufacturing offered at Northwestern Connecticut Community College in Winsted, through a U.S. Department of Labor grant awarded to the Connecticut Business & Industry Association (CBIA).

The program helps participants identify and implement lean procedures so they can be more efficient, productive and competitive in today’s lobal marketplace. Employees from Bicron Electronics Co. in North Canaan, and Fairchild Auto-Mated Parts Inc. and Alcoa Howmet, both in Winsted, participated in the program.

From Alcoa Howmet, participants included John Spina, Mike Sullivan, Darren Paine, Jamie Robbins, Paul Calabrese, Camilo Pochet, Vee Phonvichith and Terri Lemilin.

From Fairchild, there were Angelo Zappone, Linda Cross, Chuck Clark, Kelly Ames and Brian Reemers.

Bob Golas, Tom Cavanaugh, Tim Haughton and Mitch Crawford were the participants from Bicron Electronics.

“Employees participating in the lean certificate program are bringing their knowledge back to the workplace and implementing lean procedures that are helping their companies achieve tangible results and savings,� said Judith K. Resnick, CBIA’s director of workforce development and training.

The program instructor was Bill Caplan of CONNSTEP, a business consulting organization that helps small and midsize Connecticut manufacturing companies take advantage of expert business solutions to compete and grow profitably.

The program was made possible by a grant from the U.S. Department of Labor, awarded to CBIA, in partnership with the Connecticut Community Colleges and managed by Quinebaug Valley Community College.

CBIA’s Education Foundation offered this certificate program to companies for their incumbent workers and to students as a credit certificate at most of the state’s community colleges. Ten of the state’s 12 community colleges are participating in the program: Naugatuck Valley, Northwestern Connecticut, Manchester, Quinebaug Valley, Gateway, Tunxis, Middlesex, Housatonic, Three Rivers and Asnuntuck.

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