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Training: key to continued productivity

As the U.S. packaging business prepares for its upcoming biennial Pack Expo International 2000 exposition, Packaging World offers a special section on “Training” for packaging personnel.

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This represents the third in a series of special sections that have been targeting the development of people in packaging.

In ’96, PW published “Packaging 2000,” a series of articles that reported on the skills that many packaging experts described as crucial for packaging people as manufacturers planned for the future. Two years ago, the magazine targeted the beginnings of the tight labor market and offered the collective wisdom of many industry experts on how to attract and retain good workers in “The Staffing Struggle.” Out of that multi-part report came the concept for this year’s coverage of training.

By the way, PW’s coverage of training probably won’t end any time soon. That’s because it’s an industry issue whose importance will only continue to grow as our companies use ever more sophisticated equipment and as our leaner management structures require supervisory people who have more versatility in their skills.

That’s one reason we found the burgeoning training program at Nabisco’s Planters plant in Arkansas so interesting (see p. 106). Not only will it focus on machinery skills, but it also recognizes the importance of basic knowledge of math and reading. Finally, the Planters training also demonstrates how vital “people” skills will be to the valued workers of the future. Although not specifically articulated by the company, the program is geared to be self-perpetuating. As the program’s graduates are promoted to increasing responsibilities, their success “endorses” the value of the programs to those workers who follow them into the lower-level positions.

Conveying Innovations Report
Editors report on distinguishing characteristics that define each new product and collected video demonstrating the equipment or materials as displayed at the show. This topical report, winnowed from nearly 300 PACK EXPO collective booth visits, represents a categorized, organized account of individual items that were selected based on whether they were deemed to be both new, and truly innovative, based on decades of combined editorial experience in experiencing and evaluating PACK EXPO products.
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Conveying Innovations Report
Annual Outlook Report: Workforce
Hiring remains a major challenge in packaging, with 78% struggling to fill unskilled roles and 84% lacking experienced workers. As automation grows, companies must rethink hiring and training. Download the full report for key insights.
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Annual Outlook Report: Workforce