Background
In 2002, Masonite Ireland went through a business improvement plan, which required cost and technical improvements. The company required "best value and results" from employee training and development. It faced some significant challenges. The company's facility, which makes moulded door skins for the European market, is located in Carrick on Shannon, 37 miles away from the nearest college, in Sligo.
Aims and targets
A large number of Masonite's 255 employees worked rotating shifts, and many had not gone on to third level education after completing their secondary education The company's solution was to bring the educators to the factory to deliver tailored college courses on site for employees.The company's solution was to bring the educators to the factory to deliver tailored college courses on site for employees
Strategy and actions
The following are the programmes which were delivered at Masonite: National Certificate in Combined Engineering National Diploma in Combined Engineering A Degree in Mechatronics at Level 7 A Degree in Manufacturing Management at Level 7 Mechatronics is a combination of mechanical engineering, industrial automation and electronic engineering. This certificate programme began in 2002 and gave 10% of the operational Masonite employees the opportunity to gain a qualification while working full-time. Based on the characteristics of the Masonite student body i.e. adults in full-time employment, many of whom had never progressed to third-level education, the college identified the need for the delivery of the programme in a more traditional method. This resulted in all the lectures being delivered face-to-face.
Monitoring and evaluation
Funding/Cost effectiveness
Funding was provided by IT Sligo, supported by Masonite.
Sustainability/Transferability
A cost effective model for a new form of relationship between HEIs and industry.
Outcomes/impacts
Achievements
Instead of making a 60 miles round-trip to Sligo, employees attended classes in the Masonite plant’s dedicated learning suite. Classes were held at the factory two evenings a week, from 5.30pm to 9.30pm. “Virtual classes” via the Internet offered further flexibility for employees, most of whom worked 12-hour shifts. The company provided students with a 24-hour on-site learning centre with training rooms, computing facilities for lectures, study & project work. Students study subjects relevant to the Masonite work environment and they were required to apply their learning in the workplace. During the course, several student projects delivered significant benefits to the business.
Success factors
The willingness of Sligo IT to respond to the commercial culture and pressures was an important success factor.
Unintended impacts
Strengths and weaknesses
The programme has evolved alongside the changing needs of the company and its workforce. One interesting outcome has been a level 7 course in Manufacturing Management and the delivery of an Occupational Health & Safety Programme to Masonite facilities across Europe using web enabled technology.
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