National Silicates’ Chemical Process Operators Program shows that employees who are properly trained are not only more comfortable in their roles but are also more engaged in contributing to safety and productivity in the workplace. The company found that employees who have the Essential Skills necessary to be effective in the workplace are an organization’s best asset and can draw on their skills and abilities to achieve aggressive performance targets. Significant outcomes and impacts of the company’s Essential Skills training program include a zero voluntary turnover rate, reduced overtime hours, reduced outside contractor hours, reduced plant down time, more versatile employees, improved efficiency, improved productivity, improved safety and an improved work environment.
National Silicates’ Essential Skills training program might easily be adapted for use by companies in other industry sectors facing shortages of skilled workers and skill gaps among members of the existing work force.
National Silicates identifies Essential Skills gaps and addresses them through training for current employees while they are pursuing apprenticeships as chemical process operators. The company also assesses potential new employees’ Essential Skills and encourages them to pursue Essential Skills upgrading while taking first-level training as chemical workers. For both groups, Essential Skills upgrading is instrumental to individuals’ progress in job-specific training.