PTDA begins second phase of Industrial Careers Pathway program

Staff -- Industrial Distribution, 5/1/2007

The Industrial Careers Pathway—the industry training initiative developed by the Power Transmission Distributors Assn.—has begun the second phase of its plan to increase awareness of INDUSTRIAL DISTRIBUTION and the careers available in the industry.

Begun in 2005 through the PTDA Foundation, the ICP develops programs to teach basic skills in business, technical and distribution channels while helping member companies recruit employees and create resources for employee skills development.

More than 20 associations and trade groups help with training and fundraising for the ICP's education initiatives. Among them are the National Assn. of Wholesaler-Distributors, National Fastener Distributors Assn., National Fluid Power Assn. and the Canadian Fluid Power Assn.

The ICP is fine-tuning its agenda and goals this year. Among the new strategies are:

• Showing that education in the industrial distribution field is more of a tool for accelerated advancement, and not just for obtaining an entry-level, minimum-wage position;

• Pointing to some well-known end-user companies as examples of the types of customers with whom people in distribution work.

In addition, distributors and manufacturers from various business sectors will be asked to promote their industry and companies in their local communities as part of a more grass-roots outreach. For example, channel partners will be encouraged to talk to their local media about the industry, their companies and accomplishments.

ICP will also seek greater participation in local career fairs at area high schools and community colleges, and will ask companies to hold more open houses and conduct tours of their facilities for potential employees.

The PTDA realized the need for the ICP program while researching its own training curriculum as far back as 2000.

“We'd hear from members that they had these available positions, but the people coming in just weren't qualified,” said Susan Hacker, project director for the PTDA Foundation. “What they were looking for were some core competencies that included some technical aptitude.”

For more information on the ICP, visit www.industrialcareerspathway.org.