The Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED) has awarded a $300,000 grant under its Minnesota Job Skills Partnership (MJSP) to develop and implement lean process improvement training for more than 560 employees of Thermo King, a manufacturer of transport temperature control systems for a variety of mobile applications and a brand of Ingersoll Rand.
This grant will provide Thermo King with tremendous learning resources from Minneapolis Community and Technical College (MCTC). Additionally, grant resources will be used to design and develop flexible, collaborative work spaces that speed up decision-making, information-sharing and enhance teamwork for cross-functional projects. Collectively these business improvements will foster growth and customer-driven innovation. MCTC will manage the Thermo King partnership grant which will take place over the next 36 months.
"The commitment between the two organizations demonstrates how corporations and educational institutions can partner to increase business efficiency resulting in positive economic impacts," said Ray Pittard, president of Thermo King – North America. "This grant supports Thermo King’s lean culture transformation to better serve customers across North America."
Shown here https://us.vocuspr.com/ViewAttachment.aspx?ID=521979_PRAsset_116359_0 at a March 28, 2013, event to announce the grant are:
Front Row from left: Paul Moe, executive director of Minnesota Job Skills Partnership; Ray Pittard, president, Thermo King; and Phil Davis, president Minneapolis Community and Technical College
Back Row - Thermo King employees from left: John Cobb, director, human resources; Kelley Buckentine, lean champion; Steve Stucky, director of the Program Management Office and lean transformation; and Mary Hall, human resources manager.
