Baxter International Inc., Cherry Hill (Industry-Healthcare)

As a global, diversified healthcare company, Baxter International Inc. has long understood the importance of maintaining a flexible manufacturing operation to adapt to change and typical shifts in product demand and mix.

With a recent training grant awarded by the New Jersey Department of Labor Workforce, Baxter has furthered its commitment to quality manufacturing by adapting principles of the Lean Enterprise at its Cherry Hill, New Jersey facility.

Lean Enterprise is a management philosophy where employees are encouraged to focus on continuous improvement to increase value for customers. It focuses on teams and work processes instead of individuals by identifying, measuring and eliminating waste, making it easier for everyone to do their jobs efficiently.

As an organization, we understand the importance of embracing a Lean philosophy with leaders that practice this approach in both words and deeds, said Tom McDevitt, plant manager at Baxter s Cherry Hill facility.  By embracing the principles of the Lean enterprise, we are helping sustain a flexible manufacturing operation at Cherry Hill that allows us to remain competitive, provide quality products and maintain a safe and healthy workplace.  

In collaboration with the New Jersey Department of Labor Workforce, NJ Manufacturing Extension Program & Camden County College, Baxter has offered courses on the Lean Enterprise to more than 800 employees in Cherry Hill.  Implementation of Lean principles at the facility began with streamlining work processes, cutting lead times and reducing operating costs.  Employees also established processes based on the Lean Enterprise s 6S tool Sort, Set in Order, Shine, Standardize, Sustain and Safety. 

Various departments 6S ed their areas and the results were immediate. This exercise created ownership and empowered our workforce.  Everyone benefits by working as a team, said Jennifer Grace, a Lean Champion at Cherry Hill.

Among other key Lean courses attended by Baxter employees: Principles of Lean Manufacturing, Cellular Flow Manufacturing, Pull/Kanban Systems, Lean Accounting, Administrative Lean and Lean Project Management. 

Baxter is very pleased with the immediate results from implementation of Lean practices at Cherry Hill, said Herman Ford, director of Human Resources at the facility.  We recommend any New Jersey business looking to eliminate waste and enhance customer value to apply for a New Jersey Workforce Development Customized Training Grant.

New Jersey Restaurant Association (Industry-Accommodation and Food Services)

Through a customized training grant from the NJ Department of Labor & Workforce Development, the New Jersey Restaurant Association has trained almost 4000 people in 30 months. The training in in-demand skills that are awarded an industry recognized certificate covers ServSafe Foodsafety, ServSafe Responsible Alcohol Service, Guest Loyalty and More Americanized Pronunciation for Spanish Speakers. During this challenging economy, we are able to offer workers a credential that can help them move up the career ladder, increase their wages and in a tough economy, have the competitive edge to retain their jobs, commented Deborah Dowdell, president of the NJ Restaurant Association. For more details: http://www.njra.org/singlenews.asp?item_ID=2514

Amazan, Inc., Hazlet (Industry-Accommodation and Food Services)

Marin Management opened the first restaurant on April 11, 1983 in Aberdeen, New Jersey. For the next twenty years, Marin Management developed restaurants in Union Beach, Leonardo, Hazlet, and Old Bridge. The company provides nearly 300 jobs for the neighboring communities.

We think this program is one of the best kept secrets NJ has to offer.  We find it incents companies and shows NJ's dedication to the employers of the state.  It also proves NJ is concerned for the wellbeing of the resident who work in NJ.  With training initiatives such as this,  people have the opportunity to advance in their careers.

G & W Laboratories, South Plainfield (Industry-Manufacturing)

G & W Laboratories, Inc. is a manufacturer of prescription and over-the-counter specialty generic pharmaceuticals.  Founded in 1919, G&W has been based in South Plainfield, NJ since 1978.  The company is a small, privately held corporation that employs 250. 

G & W was given a grant of $51,700 to train 100 employees in communication skills and methods, English as a second language, applied mathematics, and PC Skills.  G & W Laboratories investment in their employees for the training was $55,941. 

Stephen Greene, Vice President and General Counsel of G & W, stated:  We found measurable improvement in PC capabilities and oral language fluency.  Business writing, speaking and computational skills were positively upgraded.  Employee morale appears to be stronger.  We found once again that state-sponsored training grants work well in a small company.  Training and employee development receive more priority, broader participation, and active attention with outside financial support.     

The Musculoskeletal Transplant Foundation (MTF), Edison (Industry-Manufacturing)

We are delighted to receive this grant from the Department of Labor and Workforce Development, which will help us provide training and keep more workers in New Jersey. As the nation s largest tissue bank, MTF has a commitment to excellence in education, research, recovery and care for recipients, donors and their families. Improving occupational skills will help us meet that commitment, noted Bruce Stroever, MTF President and CEO.

Oticon Inc, Somerset (Industry-Manufacturing)

Oticon Inc. has taken advantage and benefited from it for the past several years with the vast majority of its 350 employees receiving some form of training.

If it was not for this program, Oticon Inc would not have accomplished this extensive training, consequently we would not have created nearly 60 new positions, experienced double digit unit volume growth in the past several years and are truly in a more competitive position as a result.

The Customized Training program allowed the company to develop a more knowledgeable, skilled and focused workforce enabling us to tackle the competitive challenges that faces the company today.   Thomas Falvey, Vice President

TELCORDIA, Piscataway (Industry-Information)

The customized training grant that we received from the NJ Department of Labor & Workforce Development has been a valuable resource for Telcordia. It allowed our training division to offer increased learning initiatives that supported the organization in performing and adapting to an ever-changing business climate. The training grant has been important to our performance improvement activities in that it specifically aligned with business unit goals and strategic initiatives.  Through this grant investment and enhanced training offerings, we were able to address our customer needs, anticipate product requirements, and prepare for new business opportunities by learning about emerging technology trends. Stephen Reznak, Jr.