Grants and Funding

OMEP/NWHPEC Grant • DOL Food Processor Grant • EWT Fund • Manufacturing Workforce Grant

Department of Labor awards $3 million grant to OMEP to train incumbent workers in Advanced Manufacturing occupations

In January, 2004, the Oregon Manufacturing Extension Partnership (OMEP), in partnership with the Northwest High Performance Enterprise Consortium (NWHPEC), was awarded a three-million dollar US Department of Labor H-1B grant to provide Lean Manufacturing training to consortium employees. NWHPEC is a cross-industry consortium of 80 manufacturers (currently) that spans from Eugene, Oregon to Tumwater, Washington. A non-profit organization, NWHPEC's mission is to provide a forum for sharing best practices, education, and information among its member companies. The grant, extending through 2007, allows Consortium members to access much-needed Lean Manufacturing training services that will be provided by OMEP, a non-profit Lean consulting organization.

A variety of courses will be offered through this project that may include:

Principles of Lean Manufacturing
Value Stream Mapping
Performance Measurement I
Lean Team Leadership / Facilitator Training
Cellular Manufacturing
5S
Set-up Reduction
TPM
Pull/Kan Ban / Inventory Control

Standard Work
Lean Ergonomics
Error Proofing/Mistake Proofing
Executive Leadership
Lean Office
Administrative Value Stream Mapping
Lean Accounting
Performance Measurement II
Lean Information Systems
Lean Supply Chain Management

While the grant requires that training is focused on positions that require a bachelor's degree or equivalent (e.g. engineers, managers, IT employees, accountants, and other manufacturing leaders), training may be accessed by other employees as well. Training is provided during working hours. It is comprised of theoretical learning and hands-on, workplace-based activities. Training focuses primarily on companies' shared needs.

Training is provided at no cost to Consortium members; however, a 100% in-kind match from employers is required. Items that may be used as match are employee salaries and benefits during training and training-related activities, facilities use, supplies, and travel. Match will be tracked by individual companies, collected by the grant administrator, and reported in aggregate.

Participation in this project may be accessed through Consortium membership. Information regarding NWHPEC membership may be obtained through the organization's website, www.nwhpec.org. The current Consortium membership fee is $300 per quarter.