MiMfg Magazine
INDUSTRY
22
July 2019
Member
Spotlight
Peter Hungerford
ADAC
Member since February 2013 • Employs 1,200+ Michigan workers • Learn more at www.adacautomotive.com
For Tier One automotive suppliers, manufacturing
can be an intense enterprise. You constantly work
to stay ahead of the competition, develop innovative
new products, manage the ever-changing needs of
customers along the supply chain and respond quickly
to a growing demand for faster production, quicker
turnaround and greater efficiency. With finite resources
on hand, it can be difficult to allocate the funding
you need to train future talent. Luckily for ADAC
Automotive and thousands of other Michigan
businesses, the Going PRO Talent Fund is a source
for funding workforce development programs.
“What we’ve seen is that for all the new
technology that is there to improve production,
manufacturers are as dependent on a skilled human
workforce as we’ve ever been — people remain the
lifeblood of what we do,” said Peter Hungerford,
chief operating officer for ADAC Automotive, a
leading manufacturer of automotive access
technology headquartered in Grand Rapids and
employing more than 1,200 people across the
state. “Thankfully, the Going PRO program has
helped us to pursue talent efforts we may not have
been able to without that available funding.”
Through 2019, the Fund has provided more
than $100 million in funding for talent and
workforce development programs, while directly
funding an average of $32,068 to 2,234 Michigan
businesses. For Fiscal Year 2019, funding increased
to a current high of $29.1 million while MMA
and statewide manufacturers continue to advocate
for increased funding for 2020 and beyond.
“Since 2015, ADAC has used that funding
source to develop an apprenticeship program for
moldmaking and assembly operations,” explained
Hungerford. “Through partnerships with Muskegon
Community College and West Michigan Works!,
we’ve been able to leverage that funding to fill
whatever holes may exist in our workforce.”
For manufacturers struggling to train workers,
Hungerford believes the benefits of the Going
PRO program are clear.
“I’ve found two crucial benefits to the Going
PRO program,” Hungerford stated. “First, at its
core it serves a great purpose to help people develop
the skills they need for lasting career opportunities
in a way that is more flexible for employers than a
lot of other funding sources. Second, it creates a
method for manufacturers to build better relationships
with local training resources and educators from K-12,
community colleges, tech centers and universities.”
Interested manufacturers looking to Going PRO
as a talent solution should consider a few key
points before submitting an application with their
local Michigan Works! Agency (MWA):
1. Have a dedicated Going PRO staffer —
Building a talent program from scratch is
difficult enough, but doing it while trying to
manage a dozen other projects may be too
complicated. Select a willing team member to
manage your Going PRO program from the
application to the program tracking requirements.
2. Determine your weak points before applying —
A favorable Going PRO application targets
the type of talent you need, the training they’ll
require and the full spectrum from beginning
to end. Sit down with your leadership and
decide what you really want out of the
program and prioritize that in the application.
3. Use Going PRO for relationship-building as
well as talent training — Going PRO demands
a working relationship with local MWAs,
educational resources, government agencies, etc.
These relationships can be useful in other aspects
of your business so use the development of
Going PRO to strengthen these connections.
ADAC is able to upskill their team members
with help from the Going PRO Talent Fund.
“Your company can’t just think its way to
prosperity — it takes a long-term, team-wide effort
and outside funding can be a big difference-maker,”
said Hungerford. “The Going PRO program has been
a reliable lifeline for ADAC’s talent development.
No matter your size, resources, or needs, it’s
worth your time to look into Going PRO.”
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