July Digital Whistle

Factory Tour for Manufacturers

Tour Eibach – a Renowned Manufacturer of High-Performance Suspension Components located in Corona, and learn how talent development strategies have helped to increase their employee retention. Date will be in the first week of September with an early morning start. Please email Debbie at [email protected] for reservations and details. This tour will be limited to manufacturers only.

Why Industrial Apprenticeship Programs Make Good Business Sense

According to LinkedIn data, employees without a traditional four-year degree stay at companies 34% longer than those with a bachelor’s degree. Those employees often started in entry-level positions; by providing those workers with opportunities to learn and grow via apprenticeships, skills training, and mentoring, they will likely be even more engaged, motivated, and satisfied with their employer.

Benefits of apprenticeship programs for employers include:

Develops a company’s talent pipeline.
Increases employee loyalty and reduces turnover.
Fills a company’s skills gap.
Ensures transfer of knowledge and best practices from senior staff to new hires.
Lowers long-term recruitment, onboarding, and training costs.
Demonstrates investment in the local community and workforce.
Helps identify and groom future leaders within the company, which ensures a smooth transition and continuity in key roles.
MCIE is partnering with the Norco College School of Applied Technologies & Apprenticeships to address the pressing need for skilled workers in the manufacturing industry. Through this collaboration, MCIE and Norco College seek to engage and inform manufacturers about the outstanding learn and earn programs available at the college.

Encouraging Young “Makers”

In July, the Manufacturers’ Council of the Inland Empire donated ten “Smithsonian Maker Lab” books to Redlands’ A.K. Smiley Public Library Children’s Department to be offered as one of many summer reading game prizes. Executive Director of MCIE, Molly Burgess, and Deanna Krehbiel, Executive Director of Economic Development and Corporate Training (EDCT) for the San Bernardino Community College District, presented the books Pamela Martinez, Senior Librarian, Youth Services in a short ceremony. Each book was personally signed by manufacturers across the region and California.

The MCIE is committed to the development of our workforce at every stage, including getting young girls and boys interested in invention, creation, and STEM disciplines.If you know of a library or school near you who might be interested in receiving a book donation to inspire our next generation of young manufacturers, contact us at [email protected] with your suggestion.

Frito-Lay Plant Tour

July 24, 2024, the MCIE, and Women in Manufacturing (WiM) co-hosted a Frito-Lay Plant Tour and Networking event at Top Golf in Rancho Cucamonga. It was a great opportunity to make connections. Thank you to Brittnie Luu, GES department Manager at Pepsico, Inc./ Frito Lay North America and her team for a great event.

NOMINATIONS OPEN: The Coolest Thing Made in California Contest is accepting nominations! The nomination period will close August 8. To make your nomination and for more information, consult this link.

Interested in hosting an MCIE factory tour? Contact us at [email protected] for more information

Economic Update

(Jul 5) – Unemployment rate increased from 4.0% to 4.1% in June as payrolls increased by 206K with inflation standing at 2.97%. Some are taking the slowing labor market as a harbinger of normalization of monetary policy. (Associated Press)