Training & Education for Medical Molding

Our Company’s efforts to meet the demands of the modern-day job seekers and employees for a medical injection molding company must reach beyond the traditional hiring and development strategies. At Micro Mold, Plastikos, and Plastikos Medical, we are committed to providing both internal as well as external training and development to maximize all our employees’ potential.

TECHNICAL SCHOOL PARTNERSHIP

At the High School level, we partner with the nearby Erie County Technical School through a Cooperative Learning Program. These Co-op students are directly exposed to the “day in the life” of a Toolmaker at Micro Mold and Plastikos. These students are mentored by experienced Toolmakers who offer hands-on learning and growth opportunities. We are connecting education to real-world experiences through this collaborative effort and preparing the next generation of skilled trades professionals who will one day meet the needs of our growing Companies in support of our global medical customer base.

IN-HOUSE MOLD MAKER APPRENTICESHIP PROGRAM

Then we offer a range of training programs for individuals who chose to enter the precision tooling & moldmaking industry on the ground level. Our in-house Mold Maker Apprenticeship Program has been accredited in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania since 1980 and takes four (4) years, on average, to complete. The Apprenticeship Program couples 8,000 hours of detailed on-the-job training with an additional 576 hours enrolled in a range of online technical instruction. One of Micro Mold’s highly-skilled, seasoned professionals, who has worked in the injection moldmaking industry for 40+ years teaches and mentors hands-on training. Recently, we hired a Pre-Apprentice who walked through our doors, lacking any prior tooling or plastics industry experience. With an eager desire to learn the trade and an aptitude for working with her hands, she quickly began to learn how to operate our grinders and lathes, making daily contributions to our Company as she continuously gains experience and acquires new skills!

INTERNAL CORE DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM

Another entry-level in-house training program that truly sets our Company apart from others in our industry is our Career & Operational Readiness Education Development Program (CORE). Employees may either be selected or they may apply for admission into the training program based on their experience and individual performance. Our Departmental Managers and Engineers created custom, classroom-style coursework that covers seven (7) modules that explores the day-to-day contributions of each department in conjunction with a detailed overview of the injection molding process. Upon completion of this coursework, an entry-level employee may then choose a more focused career path such as: Maintenance Technician, Changeover Technician, Quality Inspector, or Process Technician to advance his/her career within our Company. Our CORE program paves the way for successful career advancement, based on an employee’s individual strengths, interests, and motivation.

RJG CERTIFICATION PROGRAM

The RJG’s Master Molder Certification Program has become a differentiator with respect to advanced scientific molding within today’s plastics industry. Our Medical Molding Manager, Danielle Bentley, is one of only a handful of certified Master Molder III RJG trainers who is approved to teach the program outside of RJG’s facilities. She is certified to teach the rigorous master molder coursework to hand-selected members of our Team. Upon completion of the program, those individuals are then officially certified as “Master Molders” and are armed with the advanced technical know-how that is needed to support our customers’ highly technical cleanroom medical molding needs.

INTERNSHIPS

Plastikos, Plastikos Medical, and Micro Mold have capitalized on internships to serve as an effective avenue to recruit talented employees to join our Team when they enter the workforce full-time. We are fortunate to have Penn State Behrend’s Plastics Engineering Program located here in the Erie region, which is one of just a handful of accredited programs across the nation. We actively participate in recruiting Behrend students for our paid Engineering Internship Opportunities. Our interns are challenged with projects that not only strengthen their professional portfolio but also contribute to our Company’s innovative research & design and continuous improvement initiatives.

EXTERNAL TRAINING & EDUCATION

Recently, we pursued a local, external opportunity to certify members of our Maintenance Technician and Toolroom Teams, as well as our Apprentices. They are currently enrolled at the Erie County Community College to earn certificates in CNC Operation/Machining, Industrial Maintenance, Automated Electrical Systems, and Welding. With Continuous Improvement as a key principle in our Mission Statement, there’s a direct correlation between investing in our employees and achieving our Company goals.

LOCAL AND REGIONAL OUTREACH PROGRAMS

Finally, Plastikos also participates in numerous local and regional outreach programs. For example, we partner with educators to host tours for teachers, administrators, students and parents, as well as actively participate in multiple High School STEM programs and career fairs throughout our region. Our goal is to expose the students to the many opportunities available in injection molding and manufacturing with the hope of inspiring today’s youth to ultimately pursue a rewarding career in the global high-tech plastics industry.

We realize that the potential for growth and advancement is an essential component to employee retention. As such, we supply numerous training opportunities and resources for our team members who share our mission of excellence in education and workforce development. At Micro Mold, Plastikos, and Plastikos Medical, we create an environment where employees not only stay but thrive in their professional careers.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Raechel Miller is a passionate HR professional with over 15 years of experience spanning retail, higher education, and, most recently, manufacturing. She thrives on interacting with people and helping them reach their full potential. Committed to continuous learning and personal growth; Raechel believes in leading by example—always setting new goals and striving to be the best version of herself. In her spare time, she enjoys embracing nature’s beauty, whether it’s camping, tending to her backyard garden, or spending quality time with her fur creatures, family, and friends.