Local Manufacturer Calls on ARCC to Develop In-House College

When Minco embarked on an organization-wide change strategy, they knew employee training would be key to their success. Since their start in 1956, Fridley-based Minco has grown into a global company with over 850 employees worldwide. And the designer and manufacturer of critical components is not done growing. President Dana Schurr has set a goal of growing sales by 15% in each of the next several years. “With those growth targets comes the opportunity for all employees to grow and learn new responsibilities,” Schurr says.

Company officials envisioned setting up a “Minco College,” where they could offer a variety of training options and employees would build a program based on their individual needs. Jane Stoner (pictured on our cover), Administrative Services Manager at Minco, sought out ARCC’s Continuing Education and Customized Training division to help take the company to the next level. “They’re nearby, and their customized training people have a great reputation, especially for their biomedical device specialty. They’re a natural choice,” says Stoner. To assist in the training, Minco and ARCC applied for and received a Minnesota Job Skills Partnership grant worth $399,998.

“This grant is providing training and professional growth opportunities for Minco employees at every level”, explains Stoner. “And ARCC will offer these programs to other businesses in the community, so this is really a win for Minco, the college, and the surrounding communities”.

Customized training will be available in Lean Enterprise principals; process operator certifications; manufacturing environment and safety; total productive maintenance; supervisory training; new and emerging regulatory standards; executive leadership training; and more. By the end of the grant, ARCC will have provided training to more than 700 employees at Minco’s worldwide headquarters in Fridley.

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