Click here to complete the 2005 NWFPA / 4HR annual salary survey.

Refrigeration Workshops & Governors at the 90th Annual NW Food Manufacturing & Packaging Exposition

ERGONOMICS

Mandatory ergonomic regulations pose a huge financial threat to all manufacturers as evidenced by the recent battles in Washington State. Food processors in that state, as well as Oregon and Idaho have been well represented on ergonomic issues for more than 20 years. To our knowledge, Northwest Food Processors Association has been more extensively involved in this area (ergonomic regulatory and legislative advocacy, curriculum and publication development, training, fund raising, initiative support, and litigation) during that period than any other food manufacturing association in the United States.

LEAN MANUFACTURING

$3.2 Million Lean Manufacturing Grant Awarded to Food Processors.  

WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT

Northwest Food Processors Association has served members with coordinated workforce development for more than two decades. NWFPA is widely recognized as a national food manufacturing leader in this area.  Following are two examples of NWFPA workforce development projects:

1. NWFPA-initiated and directed workforce development tools were produced in 2000 2002 through the Eastern Washington Agriculture-Food Processor Partnership.  Funding was secured through a $750,000 grant from U.S. Department of Labor and $500,000 from Washington State Governor Gary Locke's discretionary funds.  Industry provided $1.6 million in cash and in-kind matching funds.  These workforce development tools will soon be available online to NWFPA Processor and Supplier Members.

Workforce development tools for food processors include:

Introduction to Food Processing

Skill Gap Assessment Tool

Model Individual Training Plan

Advanced Maintenance Skill Standard
  (Ammonia Refrigeration & Electronic / Electric)

Maintenance Career Ladder

Skill Gap Analysis of Northwest Agriculture and Food Processors

2.  Skill building courses developed in 1992 1994 were used by a few community colleges.  Seven courses were produced through a partnership with Northwest Food Processors Association, 11 food processing companies, four Oregon community colleges and generous funding and guidance by Oregon Economic Development of more than $100,000 and matched by industry.  These skill building courses are available in floppy disk format and with repurposing, could become available to members on-line:  

 English as a Second Language

 Math

 Reading

 Writing

 Reasoning

 Communications

 Supervisory Spanish