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Manufacturers Learn Survival Techniques March 14, 2003 @ 8:30 PM on WVIZ Despite a decline over the past few decades, manufacturing continues to play a vital role in Northeast Ohio's economy, accounting for nearly 18% of our regional employment. That's down from 26% in 1980, but still considerably more than the national average of 13%. The Cleveland Advanced Manufacturing Program, or CAMP, is a nationally recognized leader in technical assistance for manufacturers. Offering a variety of training programs addressing everything from worker quality to the latest business practices, CAMP has assisted more than 1,500 manufacturers with hands-on improvement projects. Making Change correspondent Cynthia Barnes reports on how CAMP helped Lakewood cosmetics manufacturer Bonne Bell, Inc. improve its efficiency to more effectively compete in the global economy.  From the outside, it might not look like a place where cosmetics are made, but looks can be deceiving. Once inside, you'll see production is in full swing. "We recognize the need to have a flexible workforce." That need recently became crystal clear to Manufacturing Manager Dave Fedders. Productivity was falling because of a lack of basic work skills. Dave Fedders Manufacturing Manager, Bonne Bell We made arithmetic errors, ohm, had things subtracted, things ah, ohm, conversion factors, things of that nature." CB Since mathematical mistakes can result in lost revenue, Bonne Bell management turned to a local organization for help. The Cleveland Advanced Manufacturing Program, known as CAMP, provides technical assistance to small to medium-sized companies. Mary Ann Pacelli Mngr., Workforce & Organizational Development Services, CAMP "We helped them with first assessing the individuals, finding out where their basic skills were, math, reading, communication, problem-solving and then developing customized training that would help them improve these skills so they could be better on the job." "Grab that paper, and start putting it over there." CB Bonne Bell worked with CAMP for about a year. Many classes were held on site. One of the goals was to have all the employees on the floor, speak the same language when it comes to procedures. Dave Fedders "The ability to step out a process from start to finish, point out the different steps that take place, the ability to write instructions so that they're universally communicated so that we can communicate and do things consistently from shift to shift." CB Nancy Pinkerton has been with Bonne Bell for seven and a half years. She discovered camping out with CAMP, was well worth it. Nancy Pinkerton Line Lead, Bonne Bell "I think with the technical reading, the class, that ohm, the technical writing, ohm reading documents that we have on the line such as a process text, that we understand it a little better." CB That understanding plays a big role in making sure inventory is accurate. Bob Sigmund is the company's Vice President of Global Inventory. Since Bonne Bell sells its World's Famous lip smackers lip-gloss internationally, inventory is paramount. Bob Sigmund V.P. Global Inventory, Bonne Bell "The CAMP group has helped them in communicating with one another, emailing one another with more detailed information, documentations on new procedures on how we can better control the inventory." CB And that control is important, since Bonne Bell ships more than 75 million of their Lip Smackers around the world each year. Bonne Bell has been in the cosmetics business since 1927. And even though it's a well-established company, its executives recognized there was room for improvement. Mary Ann Pacelli/ Mngr., Workforce & Organizational Development Services (CAMP) "People who were struggling with some math and reading skills were definitely, not perhaps making more mistakes than the company needed. In most cases, those mistakes were caught at the door before it goes out, but we want to try to eliminate some of the redundancy of double-checking and also have people to do it right the first time." CB CAMP has been assisting companies with hands-on, technical and training services since its inception in 1984. Every year more companies go CAMPing. "CAMP is also on the cutting edge of helping entrepreneurs reach their full potential, take for example this new innovation; it's a golf training device. It helps golfers improve their golf swing." Over a two-year period, CAMP designed and built the machines for a Pepper Pike company. And now, these training devices are located in some of the most elite golf courses in the world. So whether a manufacturer is a young start-up or an established producer… CAMP's mission is still the same: Help the company develop concrete strategies for competing in the new economy. Ed Kwiatkowski Vice President, CAMP "Over the last five years, we've worked with about 3000 companies in helping them look at their businesses and improve their processes to become more globally competitive." CB Research from Cleveland Tomorrow shows that between 1979 and 1982, Northeast Ohio lost 76,000 manufacturing jobs. Global competition and changes in technology, have forced companies to revamp their strategies, to stay in the game. And since manufacturing still accounts for nearly 18-percent of our region's employment… with about 300,000 workers… it's important for local companies learn how to play to win. Gregory Stoup Research Director for Center for Economic Issues/Weatherhead School of Management, Case Western University "Any strategy this region has for establishing growth for the future, has to be anchored in manufacturing. It's who we are." CB CAMP stresses a workforce rooted in basic skills will help solidify Northeast Ohio's manufacturing base and lead to a thriving economy. For Making Change, I'm Cynthia Barnes Reporting Resources:
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