Spika Design Taps Unlikely Sources for Manufacturing Talent

People sometimes make assumptions about manufacturing – that the work is dirty, physically demanding, and perhaps unfit for women. But Tom Spika, CEO of Spika Design and Manufacturing http://www.spikawelding.com/ , is trying to dispel those notions (and solve the company’s hiring problems) by giving people a taste of what manufacturing is really like.

In Lewistown, Spika has spearheaded a workforce development course series with the support of the Lewistown Job Service http://wsd.dli.mt.gov/local/lewistown/ , Rev Up Montana http://www.revupmontana.com/ , and Montana State University Northern http://www.msun.edu/future/ . The goal of offering the courses is to equip the local workforce with an introductory manufacturing skillset, including knowledge in manufacturing safety, industrial math, blueprint training, and practical hands-on assembly experience.

The first Manufacturing 101 course series ran for three Saturdays during July and August and included students from a variety of backgrounds and skillsets, according to Bekhi Spika, director of marketing at Spika. Class sizes ranged from 12 to 16 students, and a handful of them were high school students, retirees, and women. The cost was $40.

"We wanted to reach into all corners of our workforce to show people that manufacturing is a viable career option in Central Montana," said Spika’s marketing director.

And with Spika Design’s upcoming expansion, the company will need more employees. In fact, one student that just completed the training program is already working at Spika part time, said Bekhi Spika.

For more information, go to http://www.spikawelding.com/ or contact Bekhi Spika at [email protected].
Fueling the Tech Sector and Creating High-Paying Jobs

The growing number of technology boot camps and training programs around Montana will help expand the tech talent pool and address the immediate need among companies for skilled tech workers. In addition to helping fuel the state’s high-tech sector, these innovative programs will also create high-paying jobs.

"We take people who have the aptitude and train them," Tom Spika said. "This allows people with low-paying jobs to work toward high-paying jobs that provide insurance."