Learning program helps transform operators into top-notch technicians

mechanics hand work on engine

Technicians, mechanics and skilled trade workers are essential for building Cummins Inc. engines. Yet, positions like these are experiencing shortages. 

In January 2023, Fortune magazine reported the alarming news that “America has a huge manufacturing labor shortage – and its education system is nowhere close to plugging the gap.” Determined to reverse the trend, Cummins Jamestown Engine Plant (JEP) and Jamestown Community College (JCC) partnered to form a program enabling employees to earn Manufacturing Skills Standards Council (MSSC) certifications.

The partnership aims to build tangible skills and professional development for JEP employees. Nickole Egger, Senior HR Generalist at JEP helps guide the program. Egger is joined by colleagues Lisa Ferguson, HR Administrator, who routinely facilitates information sessions for employees, and Jennifer Burlee, Central Services Technical Service Leader, who consistently champions and leads the skilled trainee program. Their combined passion for professional development has successfully steered the program over the years.

What is the Manufacturing Skills Standards Council?

MSSC is an industry-defined, federally endorsed program accepted in multiple industrial arenas. The program is designed to equip entering and incumbent technicians with the skills and tools to succeed as technology rapidly changes.

Available programs include Certified Production Tech (CPT), Certified Logistics Technician (CLT) and Certified Technician Supply Chain Automation (CTSCA), among others. CPT is the most popular course Cummins employees choose.

Program structure and certification pillars

Through self-paced modules online with some in-person learning, Cummins employees can make the courses work for them. Managers mentor the employee along the way. This training is not required but, says Egger, “as some of our operators look to move into the skilled trades trainee program, this is a great step to move them into that arena.”

Certification covers four pillars:

  • Safety and employability
  • Manufacturing process and production
  • Quality
  • Maintenance

Newfound skills benefit not only the individual employees but the company as a whole. “We can give more accountability and responsibility to the operators, freeing our technicians and engineers for those bigger things they need to be working on,” says Egger.

Cummins understands the value of supporting its people. Egger reflects, “Whenever you have [programs] like this, you go, ‘Am I going to be training a workforce that’s just going to leave us?’ But essentially what you see is, when you don’t invest in your people, they’re going to leave you anyway. We need to invest in our folks, and that investment for us has just led to better engagement and less attrition.”

Interested in learning more? Don’t forget to check out Jamestown Engine Plant’s skilled trade apprenticeship program.

Haley Allaben headshot

Haley Allaben

Haley Allaben is a Content Marketing Associate for Cummins Inc. She focuses on a range of content from diesel to employee-focused stories, fueling her passion to inform and engage. Haley began her career in nonprofit communications and project management, before coming to Cummins in 2022.

Haley graduated from DePauw University with a BA in English Writing.

Cummins Poland celebrates 20th anniversary

Cummins Poland celebrates 20th anniversary

Cummins Poland is celebrating the 20th anniversary of being a wholly-owned distributor of Cummins Inc.

Before April 2004, customers in Poland with Cummins-powered applications relied on two independent dealers for support.

The decision to create a Cummins-owned distributor was seen as key to accelerating growth in a strategically important market with strong credentials in the European underground mining, industrial and automotive business segments.

Cummins Poland was launched one month ahead of the country being welcomed into the European Union as an official member. This historic event was seen as a turning point for Poland as joining the EU opened up the country to new opportunities for growth.

Starting out with just nine employees – three technicians and six office staff – Cummins Poland today employs over 90 people across its branches in Lubin, Gdansk, Lomianki and at the recently opened European Master Rebuild Centre (MRC) in Krakow, a magnificent facility built at a cost of around $10 million which also serves as the headquarters of the business.

Marek Matuszewski, Country Leader Poland, said everyone within the business was proud to reach the 20-year milestone.

“Over the past two decades, we have seen engine technology develop considerably, and we have responded to our customers’ demands for ever greater levels of technical and strategic support,” he said.

Back in April 2004, Europe was at Euro III/IV emissions certification for automotive engines and Stage II for mining and industrial engines to be certified. Now, the standard is Euro VI for diesel, natural gas and hybrid, working toward Euro VII, and mining and industrial engines are at Stage V.

Meanwhile, technical advancements Cummins is making in new power solutions, including powertrains, batteries and fuel cells, will help enrich future partnerships with customers in Poland and across Europe.

Mining is an especially important market for Cummins Poland so it made complete sense that its first branch to open, in 2006, should be in Lubin, right at the heart of the Polish Copper Belt.

Three years later Cummins Poland started operations from a new location in Gdansk, Poland’s principal seaport, to be closer to its numerous marine customers.

In 2013, Cummins Poland opened a service branch in Lomianki, just outside of Warsaw.

Cummins Poland

Today, there are 11 dealers in the Cummins Poland network, which extends into neighbouring Ukraine and the Baltic States of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania.

In its 20 years of operation, Cummins Poland has established itself as a major force for good in communities across the country.

The business helps to maintain national parks and supports childcare homes and organisations, including a rehabilitation centre in Gdansk for children with physical and intellectual disabilities.

It also organises technical lessons for school students to help with their STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) learning, working closely with high schools and technical universities.

One of Cummins Poland’s finest hours came in spring 2022 in the aftermath of the invasion of Ukraine and the resultant refugee crisis.

Poland saw an influx of around three million refugees and the response from Cummins was nothing short of spectacular, with many hours of employee time being volunteered to help women and children who were being settled in and around the Cummins Poland locations.

The success of Cummins in Poland over the past 20 years owes much to the commitment of a loyal and hardworking team that has pulled together to create successful partnerships with customers in a variety of business segments.

“With the power of Cummins behind us and such a talented workforce, we’re confident of taking our business in Poland to new heights,” said Marek Matuszewski.

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Europe

Polish brothers deeply committed to serving Cummins’ mining customers

The brothers – Jerzy, Krzysztof and Adam Majcher

The bonds between three brothers who are service technicians for Cummins Poland have become even deeper now they are all working together one kilometre underground in a copper mine.

The brothers – Jerzy, Krzysztof and Adam Majcher have 26 years of experience between them working from Cummins’ Lubin branch in Lower Silesia.

They were selected to be part of a team of 17 service technicians embedded with one of the biggest copper and silver mining companies in the world.

The specialist technicians are on hand to maintain and repair the 600+ Cummins engines powering various machinery and keep the mining operation working around the clock.

“These are some of the most challenging conditions on earth for machinery,” said Marek Matuszewski, Country Leader for Poland, “and it’s our job to minimise any machine downtime and help our customer maximise the productivity of the mine.

“Having a specialist team on site, close to the action, means we can identify issues before they happen and react quickly to any issue that crops up. The mission is to keep things running as efficiently as possible.”

The Cummins service technicians work on a variety of Cummins engines starting from small 4B 3,9 litre up to QSL9, covering complete range of emission levels - from old mechanical engines up to latest Stage V engines, which powers some of the latest prototype undergound mining equipment. from 3.8 to 8.3 litres engines.

“I’m immensely proud of the Majcher brothers and all our team,” said Marek. “They are showing tremendous dedication to this important work which matters so much to us, to our customer and to our national economy.”

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