Massachusetts MEP: Massachusetts Manufacturing Extension Partnership

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 16, 2008

For more information please contact:
Jack Healy
MassMEP
Tel: 508-831-7020

L.S. STARRETT COMPANY: MASSMEP’S M.O.S.T. SUCCESSFUL STAR
Toolmaker Hires 44 Workers as a Result of MassMEP’s M.O.S.T. Program
ATHOL, MA - The L.S. Starrett Company, a manufacturer of more than 5,000 variations of precision tools, gages, measuring instruments and saw blades, has been a leader in the precision tools industry for almost 130 years. Local small machine shops and large Fortune 500 companies alike turn to Starrett for their fine instruments and hand measuring tools. The company employs about 2,000 people worldwide.

With the shortage of skilled manufacturing workers across the country, Starrett was looking for ways to train and keep good employees in their shop. In order to keep up with the demand for their products and hire workers quickly, the manufacturer turned to the Massachusetts Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MassMEP) and their M.O.S.T. program.

“M.O.S.T. stands for Mobile Outreach Skills Training. Using our mobile training unit, or MTU, we bring instruction straight to the company’s doorstep. Would-be workers are schooled in shop math, blueprinting, metrology and other hands-on work. In this case, we worked with Starrett to provide five separate two-week training sessions,” said Leslie Parady, project manager of MassMEP.

There are two phases to the M.O.S.T. program. In Phase One, trainees participate in an intensive, two week, 80-hour basic operator skills training process in the MTU. In Phase Two, trainees participate in a 40 day on-the-job training process, which then results in full-time employment at the company. Using M.O.S.T., 44 new workers were able to fill vacant machine operator positions and a number of computer numerical-control (CNC) operator positions at Starrett.

“The first three times we did our training, we did use the MTU, but that ultimately morphed into a training unit on-site at the company, equipped with computers for the trainees to use,” added Parady. “They still get the same level of training, but have established the on-site training facility so this can be an ongoing event.”

Many other local organizations lent their support to MassMEP and the M.O.S.T. program during these training events. The Franklin Hampshire Regional Employment Board (FHREB) took an active role in recruiting, screening, promoting and interviewing candidates. Working with other government, business, labor, education and community-based agencies, the FHREB coordinates and oversees publically-funded workforce training and placement programs in the Franklin and Hampshire region, including the Franklin Hampshire One Stop Career Center.

“We did get a lot of support from Patricia Crosby, the FHREB executive director, as well as Michael Truckey, career center director from the Franklin Hampshire Career Center and Deborah Radway, the operations manager for the Franklin Hampshire Career Center. Each of them contributed to the success of our trainings,” said Parady. “These folks work diligently to meet the needs of those who are seeking a job and employers who need those workers to fill key positions.”

“We proudly boast that we are the last remaining full line precision tool company to be manufacturing our products within the U.S., and we want it to stay that way,” said Joel Shaughnessy, personnel director at Starrett. “By using the MassMEP’s M.O.S.T. program, we are able to equip our new workers with the skills needed to do the job. We have been able to rotate them through different departments when needed as well. We are extremely pleased with the workers we have hired as a result of M.O.S.T. and additionally plan to utilize MassMEP ‘s help in the future.”

About MassMEP
The MassMEP is an affiliate of the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) under the U.S. Department of Commerce. The national MEP system is a network of manufacturing extension centers that provide business and technical assistance to smaller manufacturers in all 50 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico. Through MEP, manufacturers have access to more than 2,000 manufacturing and business “coaches” whose job is to help firms make changes that lead to greater productivity, increased profits and enhanced global competitiveness. For more information, please visit www.massmep.org, or phone 1-800-MEP-4MFG.

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