Thumb Plastics Upskills with Going PRO Talent Fund Award

The announcement of the Going PRO Talent Fund Applications brought a wave of excitement! Recognizing the opportunity, GST Michigan Works! Huron County Business Solutions Professional scheduled a meeting with Jade at Thumb Plastics to discuss her training needs for the upcoming year. Jade had a clear vision for 2023. She highlighted the need for courses in Leadership, Problem Solving, Design, Electrical, and more. She believed this training would significantly enhance her employees’ performance. Additionally, she mentioned an apprentice who was in the final stages of his On-the-Job Training (OJT) program.

As we delved deeper into Jade’s requirements, it became evident that a Going PRO Talent Fund Grant would be the perfect solution to fund the desired training programs. We guided Jade through the application process, and Thumb Plastics was awarded the grant!

With the grant secured, four employees at Thumb Plastics embarked on a journey of professional growth. They earned Certificates of Completion in various specialized training courses: Building Better Work Relationships, Component Repair, Introduction to Design of Experiments, Advanced Problem Solving: Lean Six Sigma Yellow Belt, and Finance for the Non-Financial Manager.

These training programs were more than just certifications. They were pivotal in making the employees more efficient and enhancing their understanding of various facets of their jobs. With better-trained employees, Thumb Plastics anticipated a ripple effect of positive change. The newly acquired skills would be shared among colleagues, fostering a more collaborative and knowledgeable work environment. This, in turn, was expected to lead to increased quality, productivity, and employee retention.

Despite the challenge of managing short-staffed shifts during training periods, the long-term benefits were undeniable. The temporary absence of employees was a small price to pay for the wealth of knowledge and skills they brought back to the company. The investment in training not only promised a brighter future for the employees but also paved the way for Thumb Plastics to thrive with a highly skilled and motivated workforce.