Vfitb Mintrac Presentation 2010 Final

Adjusting Apprenticeship

Training:Skills to fit the

industry

MINTRAC Conference presentation25 March 2010

Ian Nicolson & Linda Baron

Consultation with Brown Brothers, Milawa

VFITB Food Maintenance Project 2009

Project Steering Committee

• Ian Nicolson (Chair) VFITB• Lynne Stockdale Project Manager VFITB (until 1 Sept)• Linda Baron Project Manager VFITB (after 3 Sept)• Paul Kennett MESAB ITB• Alex Bernhardt MESAB ITB• Peter Canavan Ai Group• John Stapleton Skills Victoria• Julie Warren National Union of Workers • Tom Hale Australian Manufacturing Workers

Union• Trevor Lange Chisholm Institute of TAFE• Klaus Bienert Box Hill Institute of TAFE

Background

• Changes in food processing facilities– Use of technology, eg PLCs– Rapid capital updates– New plant & equipment

• Mismatch of training products and services with industry need

• Significant block to productivity improvement

“The maintenance department might be relatively small in number when compared with production personnel but it is vital to our operations” Meat Processor

Project Brief

• Skills Victoria funded the VFITB (lead agent) and MESAB

• Industry based consultant recruited to the team

• Target maintenance tradespeople (mechanical trades)

• Identify the skill mix issues affecting job roles

• Develop model training programs that better suit skill requirements

• Encourage greater dialogue between employers and RTOs

Methodology

• Stage 1 - Consultations with industry

– Engagement of RTOs

– Development of sample training plans

• Stage 2 Consultations – testing sample training plans with industry and RTOs

• Stage 3 Deliver final report and plans

• Stage 4 Disseminate to industry/RTOs

Industry consultation

Reg Quick, Ron Tubb, Mick Ressom at Nestle (Uncle Toby’s), Wahgunyah with Casey van Berkel

Consultation

Cross section of metropolitan and regional food processing enterprises:– Meat & poultry– Dairy– Confectionery– General foods– Beverages / wine

“Some of the equipment we employ on site is reasonably complex, incorporating mechanical (pneumatic) and electronic technology” Dairy Products

Issues

• 20% companies in city, outsource trades• Only small numbers of trades

apprentices per site (1 – 3)• Most don’t retain apprentices on

completion• Many don’t know they could customise

training plans with an RTO

“….the fitting apprenticeship is overloaded with machining skills…need to have more mechanical maintenance such as seals, bearings, pumps, etc….. Large Bakery

Sample Cert 3 training plan excerpts

Stage 3 (mechatronics flavour)• Use tools for precision work• Repair and fit engineering components• Maintain pneumatic system components• Disconnect/connect fixed wired equipment

up to 250 volts a.c./1500 volts d.c.• Terminate and connect electrical wiring 

• Perform electrical/electronic measurement• Fault find/repair electrical

equipment/components up to 240 volts single phase supply

• Maintain pneumatic systems• Maintain fluid power controls• Enter and change programmable controller

operating parameters

Stage 4 (mechatronics flavour)

Industry Consultation

Consultation with Heinz, Echuca – Jan Shellew, Training Coordinator and baby food production team, Matt Colvin, Lenny Tipper, Bill Smith

Findings

• Gaps exist between skill needs of industry and programs currently delivered by RTOs

• Industry awareness that it can alter plans was low

• Need for training customised for the needs of the site

“We are investing heavily in technology to ensure we stay in the game…..as part of this we are reviewing the way we organise our work…..” Smallgoods Producer

Findings cont.

• Skill mix changes are being driven by new technology and work practice changes (how work is organised)

‘…we are looking to introduce multi skilled team leaders that can oversight the production line, fault find and fix problems and organise maintenance requirements ….this person will be integrated into the production team…..”

Food Manufacturer

Recommendations

• Increase dialogue between industry and RTOs to better customise training plans (from existing TPs)

• Use alternative delivery strategies where RTO needs to use industry knowledge/equipment/processes

• Promote alternative training plans to RTOs and industry

Where to from here?

• New Upskilling Food Operators project commenced in March – input from companies being sought

• Aspects to include – knowledge of training system, latest funding initiatives, etc., new funds for higher qualifications in Victoria

Other activities

Other activities cont.

• Voc Grad Cert in Food Industry Management created 2009– 2010 first intake at NCDEA/GO TAFE with

Murray Goulburn Coop

• 2010 new Voc Grad Diploma in Food Industry Management project

• VFITB website carries broad range of Food news stories. Register www.vfitb.com.au

• FDF10 expected to be endorsed in coming months

Questions

Casey van Berkel with Christian Willmott, Tatura Milk, Joanna Foulkes and Andrew Shaw, Unilever,

Colin Slocombe, Tatura Milk

September 2009

VFITB welcomes your stories of industry training and initiatives

VFITB values the time industry contributes to the annual Victorian Skill Needs Report research