Companies around the world understand the benefits of workplace training. Thames Timber, a lumber company in New Zealand, has a workplace literacy program focused on understanding lean manufacturing principles and practices. Watch Video
Source: ABC Life Literacy Canada
Minas Basin Pulp & Power Company Ltd. (Hantsport, Nova Scotia)
In 1999, the family-owned Minas firm identified the need to improve basic literacy and the standard education level of its employees in order to grow and compete in the market. Working with the Nova Scotia Apprenticeship Training and Skills Development division, Minas targeted the following areas: essential skills for GED preparation/upgrading, document literacy, basic computers, and basic math.
The resulting education program has been an “overwhelming” success—both for the company as well as the employees. The outcomes include unprecedented operating efficiencies, an all-time low absenteeism rate, and a 13-fold reduction in lost time due to accidents.
Source: Centre for Workplace Skills – Best Practices
Trout River Industries (Coleman, Prince Edward Island)
Trout River Industries is a small manufacturing firm based in Coleman, PEI that designs, builds, sells, and services “live bottom truck trailers” for customers in both Canada and abroad. Live bottom truck trailers incorporate a conveyer belt that allows for safer and quicker loading and unloading of cargo thereby meeting a need for more “versatile transport solutions” that have been identified by the trucking industry.
Since building its first trailer in 1999, Trout River Industries has expanded its customer base and developed a reputation for producing safe, high-quality, and multi-functional trailers. Despite its success, the company believed that it could further improve its productivity by investing in employee training and development. In particular, Trout River Industries saw an opportunity to improve the basic literacy and essential skills of its employees which could produce improvements in business performance and provide a foundation for future learning at the company.
In 2009, Trout River Industries initiated a multi-faceted employee learning and education program that has led not only to significant productivity gains and “huge effects on the bottom line,” but also national recognition with its receipt of the 2010 Council of the Federation Literacy Award.
Source: Centre for Workplace Skills – Best Practices
Cavendish Farms Learning Centre (Prince Edward Island)
In 2002, Cavendish Farms, “The Potato Specialists,” established the Learning Centre, designed originally to facilitate the completion of General Education Development (GED). It has grown to include adult basic literacy and a number of more advanced courses including mathematics, biology, and post-secondary refreshers.
To date, more than 300 employees (40% of the workforce) have participated in programs. As a result, employees have passed academic and corporate exams that enable them to attain full-time employment in general and posted positions. In addition, employees report that as a result of their enhanced capabilities they feel ‘more fulfilled,’ both personally and professionally.
Source: Centre for Workplace Skills – Best Practices
Allendale Electronics (Lockeport, Nova Scotia)
Since an electronics manufacturer cannot rely on the local community to provide the highly-skilled workers it requires, the company has invested in a learning program that develops raw talent into a competitive, qualified workforce…
… From time to time, Allendale offers a course that focuses on essential skills in the workplace. This course, first offered in 2009, has been a success and management has decided to offer it on an ongoing basis to a broader proportion of employees. The course focuses on employee relations, time management, organizational skills and email etiquette.
Source: Centre for Workplace Skills – Best Practices
Tri-County Literacy Council 