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Case Study - Jayco Manufactures Futures Program

Overview

 The manufacturing industry is currently experiencing a major skills gap and in doing so is having difficulty in attracting not only quality employees, but in particular young people to the industry.

With the general perception of the industry as being “dirty, dumb and dangerous”, a major focus on educating students, teachers, parents and the wider community on the evolution of manufacturing is required to channel young people into the industry, thus enabling a viable career pathway for them to pursue. 

The Jayco Manufactured Futures Program was designed to attract young people from the South East into the manufacturing industry.

About Jayco

 Jayco was founded in 1975 by Gerry Ryan who today remains the Managing Director of the company.

 Today Jayco employs over 550 staff manufactures 171 vehicles over 5 different production lines on a weekly basis. Almost one in every two new Recreation Vehicles sold in Australia is a Jayco.

Jayco see the ‘Manufactured Futures’ program as a long term recruitment strategy to identify young industry leaders of the future and address the skill shortages that exist within the manufacturing industry.

 Target Group

The program aims to target students in Year 10 who have an interest in the manufacturing industry giving them the opportunity to not only gain hands on experience in the manufacturing industry, but also aims at providing young people with a Certificate III in Manufacturing and the possibility of obtaining full time employment.

Students are identified and recruited from secondary schools in the South East region including the City of Greater Dandenong, City of Casey and Shire of Cardinia via the South East LLEN WLC program and its local networks.

How it works

 Students do paid work one day per week at Jayco of formal on the job training and attend on one other day visited by a trainer to complete their study component of the Certificate III in Manufacturing.

The duration of the “Manufactured Futures” Program for each student is two years.

In 2010 eleven students from ten secondary schools in the South East region have been successful in obtaining School Based Apprenticeships at Jayco. Of these students 4 have been offered full time employment.

In 2011 nine students have currently been accepted for the program commencing in February 2011.

At the completion of the two year program, the students will receive a Certificate III in Manufacturing and the opportunity to commence an apprenticeship and full time employment with Jayco.

What work do the students get to do

 First year school based apprentices are exposed to:


  • Hand & Power Tool Skills
  • Welding
  • Flooring
  • Roof Construction
  • Wall Construction
  • Basic Cabinet Construction
  • First Aid
  •  

Second year school based apprentices are exposed to:


  • Cabinet Construction
  • Internal 12 Volt Fittings
  • External 12 Volt Cabling
  • Internal Fittings
  • External Fittings
  • Roof Fittings
  • Internal Finish
  • External Finish
  • Improvements

Some of the jobs that exist within the company include –

Occupations

Assembler

Electrician

Plumber

Draughtsperson

Receptionist

Forklift Driver

Storeperson

Designer

Cabinetmaker

Sewing  Machinist

Computer Analyst

Purchasing Officer

Welder

Accountant

Human Resources Officer

Marketing Officer

Sales Officer

Production Supervisor

Warehouse Supervisor

Quality Assurance Officer

Maintenance Planner

Production Engineer

Inventory Controller

Dispatch Clerk

Industrial Designer

After Sales Service Officer

Spare Parts Officer




















 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Outcomes

The Program provides many positive outcomes for the industry and local community including:


  • Creating career pathway options to students in the manufacturing industry
  • Provide students with employment opportunities
  • Develop young, reliable and efficient employees
  • Increase depth in employee talent and as a result increase opportunity for advancement in company
  • Support local businesses with employee resources
  • Encourage more students to consider the manufacturing industry as an alternate career option
  • Set the benchmark for other manufacturing companies in the region to embrace the program and follow suit

The program has been successful in addressing the skills shortage issue and introducing the next generation of employees into the manufacturing industry. The Jayco Manufactured Futures program is a fine example of best practice with Jayco becoming a Champion Employer for the South Eastern Region.