Cummin to a new way of learning

Apr 3 2007 By The Journal

Cummins Engines designs, manufactures, distributes and services engines and related technologies - in an extremely competitive market.

Based in Darlington, Cummins has more than 40 years of experience, 600 employees and 44 plants worldwide. To stay at the forefront of its market, Cummins has had to find ways of constantly evolving and improving.

Therefore the business challenge for Cummins turns on the three key areas of cost, quality and delivery. To achieve greater efficiency in all three areas, it has been necessary to engage the entire workforce so that they feel a sense of ownership about implementing changes to working practices.

One of the key areas where Cummins has applied this approach in a very practical way is by equipping people with the right skills for their job, which ultimately enhances performance.

Although the end goal is business-driven, the learning project at Cummins is very much a partnership with the unions and is learner-led. With the support of the company, the unions and driven forward by the union learning representative (ULR), supported by Unionlearn with the Northern TUC, Cummins accessed funding from the regional LSC Workforce Development pot to set up a learning centre in 2004 - which has become the hub of activity and skills improvement.

Stuart Procter, HR performance development co-ordinator, says: "Any learning and development is beneficial to the business - it's a motivated employee who is being mentally stimulated and becoming open to new ideas - whether that is learning a new language or how to build an engine. People now want to learn, to get better, to contribute more."

Mark Thorpe, Amicus convenor and ULR, says: "The ULRs on site strongly believe in helping people into the learning agenda - people can make the difference in society and in the workplace. Skills for life are essential for personal transferable skills which is key for union members."

Learning centre co-ordinator Pat Hilton adds: "I get the opportunity to help people improve themselves and it's extremely rewarding to see them enjoying their learning experiences and best of all - benefiting from it. I have an immense sense of pride when our learners achieve and their successes are reflected throughout the business - success breeds success."