It was in 2006 that we started to discuss about solutions to prevent the lack of workers in our machining department. First, our business being seasonal, that means that we have employees temporarily laid off each year in some departments, except in the machining department. In fact, we are frequently looking for employees throughout the year in this department! Secondly, we observed we had good employees laid off each year, but not qualified to work in the machining department. Our second observation was to realize the significant challenge of recruiting skilled workers.
 
Starting from these two observations, we had the idea of creating a CNC operators training program. We then contacted the Commission Scolaire Des Chênes early in 2007 to develop with them a training program for Mazak CNC lathes operators.

Following our needs analysis and the current skills of our employees, Daniel Deak and teachers Éric Bédard and Yvon Boisvert have presented a potential training program. After validation, we submitted our project to Emploi-Québec and they agreed to support us financially. The training had finally begun late in 2007 and early in 2008 and 16 workers were involved.

We wish to thank the Commission Scolaire Des Chênes and their Business Services as well as Mrs. Sylvie Verville from Emploi-Québec for their collaboration. We also want to acknowledge the enthusiasm and the participation of our employees who have spent several Saturdays to perfect their skills.
 

We are very proud of the recognition that the Fédération des Chambres du Commerce has awarded us. Finding ourselves alongside Rolls-Royce Canada to receive such an award has confirmed we created a bold and innovative training program. We know there’s still work left to do and that’s why we are presently working to develop a second training phase, which will be established soon and this, also with the collaboration of the Commission Scolaire Des Chênes and their Business Services as well as Mrs. Sylvie Verville from Emploi-Québec.