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Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP)

Advanced Manufacturing Utilization for Process Operator Training Upskills New Workforce

With the help of: Manufacturing Extension Partnership of Louisiana (MEP of LA)

About

Westlake is a global diversified industrial company that manufactures and supplies essential products that enhance the daily lives of people around the globe. Their products supply the necessary building blocks for everyday products across housing and infrastructure, packaging and healthcare, and automotive and consumer goods. Consumers gain the benefits of materials Westlake produces in products such as food packaging, medical devices, soaps and detergents, car interiors, fashion, toys, shoes, furniture, electronics, siding, stone veneer, windows, outdoor living, roofing, and pipe & fittings. Westlake is proud to contribute to driving a sustainable future through the creation of essential products that are Enhancing Your Life Every Day®.

The Challenge

Westlake, a client of MEP of LA, part of the MEP National Network™, was in need of process operator training, part of the foundational skill set needed to enter into entry-level operator positions, for several employees at their Lake Charles, Louisiana, facility. Westlake sent 13 new and incumbent workers to the training after being pleased with the level of expertise provided by The Training Place, SOWELA MEP of LA's third-party provider ,who provided project management training alongside the Lean 101 training provided by LCTCS MEP of LA. The relationship with the client has been fostered by SOWELA MEP of LA affiliates Kylie Roussell and Ana Denison.

Great work!

— Rodney Trahan, Senior Training Specialist

MEP's Role

Previously, 5 of Westlake's full-time employees taught the class. Once the company started coming to SOWELA MEP of LA, their trainers became able to do other jobs, rather than spending their time onboarding new operators and engineers. Employing SOWELA’s hands-on equipment and trainers to facilitate has helped the new hires get trained in a shorter period of time, and having the training occur off-site has helped the company by removing those impacts to production. SOWELA's simulators have helped upskill the new workforce, allowing them to place the new hires right to work when they get to the plant. There is no longer a need to shadow the seasoned operators to learn their job duties, providing a cost savings of $1,800,000 for Westlake. The process operator training has helped Westlake employ over 75 new operators for their plant.

Created July 24, 2024