Life-long learning pays off

Investing in employees provides measurable returns and intangible benefits

By -- Industrial Distribution, 5/1/2000

In today's business environment, the market we compete in changes every day. Keeping your company primed for success requires ensuring that your employees are prepared to react to and embrace change. At U.S. Tsubaki (UST), preparing people for change means a commitment to the growth of all employees, which is an integral component of growth for the company as a whole.

We believe the growth of our employees can best be achieved through the establishment of our own corporate university. So we established UST University, a company-wide, unified learning system with the resources and expertise to determine, design, deliver and evaluate training and organizational development programs that meet strategic, organizational and individual needs.

Launching our corporate university began with creating a governance structure, which consists of an executive board of education (consisting of the president and senior management) and a learning council (consisting of training professionals and operating managers). We followed that with the development of business-linked curriculum that, to date, includes leadership development for all levels, and training in customer service, power transmission principles, human resources, and shop trades.

Part of our statement of values, printed on the back of every employee's business cards, is to "continuously improve products, processes, employees and service." Our life-long commitment to the growth of our employees reaches across our entire organization. We see this program as a natural extension of our commitment to treat people fairly and with respect, to listen to them and support them in performing their duties to the best of their abilities.

We mandate annual training hours for every employee, from a janitor to the company president. Depending on an employee's position and how it fits into the corporate plan, training ranges from in-house cross-functional training for a manufacturing line worker to an advanced degree for someone in management.

At a time when any business journal you pick up is likely to include an article bemoaning the lack of employee loyalty, we've seen a remarkable change in employee attitudes towards both our company and themselves. This change has lead to a dramatic increase in employee commitment to the company and to our customers. The program also improved employee retention, since employees feel we offer not just a job, but rather an environment in which they have the opportunity to learn and grow.

Our commitment to life-long learning is one of the primary reasons we support the PTDA Educational & Scholastic Foundation. As the education and research arm of the Power Transmission Distributors Assn., the foundation is dedicated to enhancing the knowledge, professionalism and productivity of participants in the power transmission/motion control industry. The foundation's support of continuing education provides members with access to valuable programs that benefit member companies and their employees.

Whether you implement an in-house training program, or take advantage of outside educational programs, you'll find that life-long learning programs offer both tangible and intangible benefits. Invest in your employees and begin reaping these benefits today.

Bob Callahan is senior vice president of business development & acquisitions at U.S. Tsubaki Inc. (UST), in Wheeling, Ill. He also serves as the president of the PTDA Educational and Scholastic Foundation 2000 Board of Trustees.