Novelis partners with Cayuga Community College to develop a robust talent pool

Novelis, the world leader in aluminum rolling and recycling, today announced a long-term commitment to the Cayuga Community College’s Fulton campus to launch an Advanced Manufacturing Institute, including an industrial maintenance technician program and an advanced laboratory and training center. Funded in part by an $80,000 endowment by Novelis, the Institute’s mission will be to equip students with manufacturing skills to develop a robust talent pool that will be required to fill the many jobs expected to be brought to the Central New York region.

Novelis and other manufacturers are facing an urgent need in identifying and recruiting qualified personnel as these companies seek to grow in the region. An industry research report from Deloitte Manufacturing Institute concluded that the average time to fill an open position for skilled production coworkers in the US has now reached 70 days. In light of this employment gap, Novelis’ commitment to Cayuga Community College will include a newly developed internship program incorporated into the requirements for the industrial maintenance technician program.

“We anticipate needing to fill upwards of 250 operating technician and maintenance technician positions at our Oswego plant over the next five years as a result of growth and anticipated retirements,” said Chris Smith, Plant Manager at Novelis Oswego. “This new facility at Cayuga Community College will provide career pathways for local applicants seeking careers in manufacturing while enabling our Oswego plant to continue to support the needs of our North American automotive customers.”

The industrial maintenance technician program will incorporate hands-on training in laboratories that Novelis will also utilize to train its own employees along with students of the college.

“We are grateful to Novelis for this critical investment,” said Brian Durant, President of Cayuga Community College. “Novelis has been a strong partner in our state, and together, the Advanced Manufacturing Institute will benefit our faculty, staff, students, and community for years to come.”

Novelis’ commitment also includes:

• Equipment to replicate processes found in manufacturing environments
• Leveraging Novelis’ network of vendors to commit discounted lab stations and discounted or in-kind contributions to the construction and maintenance of the lab
• Utilization of Novelis’ subject matter experts during the lab construction set-up and specialty equipment operation, as well as in the design of the Novelis internship program
• Representation on Cayuga Community College’s applicable curriculum advisory committees, allowing faculty and staff to tap in to Novelis’ industry-specific expertise

“Over the past four years, Novelis has partnered with Cayuga Community College on several initiatives that have been critical to the growth and development of our workforce in the automotive market,” said Malcom Gabriel, Director of Human Resources at Novelis Oswego. “We are dedicated to help build a qualified talent pool to meet our business needs and ensure the long term growth and sustainability of Novelis Oswego.”

Novelis’ efforts identifying and recruiting qualified personnel will play a critical role as Oswego County continues its efforts to attract and retain a diverse, high-quality workforce to foster economic development and regional support systems.

"The partnership between Novelis and Cayuga Community College’s Advanced Manufacturing Institute is an innovative and strategic initiative that will offer local manufacturing (Novelis), the skilled and “ready to work” workforce required to ensure continued growth and economic development throughout Oswego County,” said Joseph A. Rotella, Executive Director of the Workforce Development Board of Oswego County.

Producing more than a billion pounds of high-quality aluminum sheet each year, Oswego represents Novelis’ flagship facility in North America. Equipped for aluminum scrap remelting, ingot casting and hot and cold rolling, Oswego generates premium aluminum products used primarily by the beverage can, building and construction and automotive markets, and in multiple industrial product applications.