Training and Development

Globally, training encompasses a variety of programs, from apprenticeships and machine-specific skill development to grant-funded partnerships, Six Sigma training to leadership skills. These skills are necessary to achieve Glatfelter’s vision, to execute its strategy, and to live out our core values. These skills advance our collaborative approach to workplace efficiency issues that affect both labor and management. In 2010, more than 1,000 employees have been assisted by Glatfelter’s Training and Development team through training programs and consulting solutions that fostered individual, team and organizational growth, change and effectiveness across the company.

The Value of Apprenticeships

Within our Composite Fibers Business Unit we sponsor apprenticeship programs for trainees on an annual basis in our Lydney, UK, Gernsbach, Germany and Scaër, France locations. Professions trained include:

• Papermaker
• Electronic Technician
• Industrial Mechanic
• Industrial Clerk
• IT Specialist
• Bachelor of Arts (B.A)
• Bachelor of Science (B.Sc.)
• Bachelor of Engineering (B.Eng)

As a globally active company Glatfelter also sponsors the Northern Institute of Technology Management in Hamburg, Germany. The private, non-profit institution was founded in 1998 by 30 professors and friends of The Hamburg University of Technology (THUT) in order to offer a unique and challenging program for the most qualified students worldwide.

Glatfelter Gernsbach grants attractive scholarships to students studying at the NIT. A full scholarship covers all tuition, accommodations and semester fees. The scholarship is for highly motivated and outstanding individuals. Every two years the most qualified foreign student completes an internship at our Gernsbach location from August to November after the second semester at NIT. The practical training in our Gernsbach location is intended to supplement the course of study and extend the theoretical knowledge learned in university.

Glatfelter’s Ohio operation offers a 4 year state approved apprenticeship program for Electrical Instrumentation Mechanics and/or a 3 year approved apprenticeship program for Mechanical Maintenance. In partnering with Ohio University apprentices will be able to receive up to 32 credit hours for a portion of the classes taught at Glatfelter’s training facility.

• A Performance Management System for salaried employees worldwide establishes quarterly performance discussions, links personal goals with strategic and financial business goals, incorporates an annual merit increase cycle and emphasizes personal development objectives.
• Employees in leadership positions complete numerous courses each year to ensure a practical understanding and execution of Glatfelter’s Code of Business Conduct; including training in ethical behavior, anti-harassment, anti-bribery, and mutual respect among others.
• Leaders globally are provided access to external coaches to facilitate leadership skills development.
• Training courses provide a basic financial understanding, managing multiple tasks and objectives, team building, communication and listening skills.
• Leading for safety, coaching others for improvement and interest-based bargaining with labor leadership teams.
• Regularly scheduled safety training sessions for all employees increase awareness and encourage safe working practices.
• Tuition reimbursement is provided for approved job related courses through accredited colleges and universities.

2010 Training & Development Accomplishments

In 2010 Glatfelter Lydney opened a new employee learning centre in Gloucestershire that was a joint venture between Glatfelter and UnionLearn (A Trade Union Congress organization), aimed at giving employees the opportunity and facilities for learning and skills development to become “Better Every Day.” This was jointly funded by UnionLearn and Glatfelter and represents a significant investment in computers and the infrastructure to support. Encouraging the development of existing and new skills is vitally important as employees seek to advance their careers. Broadening skills is central to Glatfelter’s strategy of cultivating a sustainable skill base for future growth and opportunity. In Composite Fibers, the Human Resources team developed a new Training and Personnel Development concept. This program began by first developing a common system to encompass the training and development initiatives that have been created throughout the entire business unit. The organization then evaluated the training needs and expectations of each identified participant by reviewing self-assessments completed by each individual. Finally, training modules were designed and implemented. During 2010, employees were offered trainings on topics such as:

• Problem Solving
• Finance for Beginners
• Time Management
• Self Organization
• Presentation Skills
• Train the Trainer courses

The organization will continue to make these programs sustainable and align them with initiatives across our other business units in order to further develop our global training and development platform. Training in lean tools provides Glatfelter PEOPLE with the knowledge and skills to facilitate Kaizen events to continually drive Continuous Improvement. Over 50 employees in Glatfelter’s three business units have participated in this training and are applying the Kaizen framework. A number of employees in our Spring Grove mill have also completed lean certification through a local non-profit industrial resource center. Lean Certification provides these employees with a structured approach to become a Lean leader. Additionally, 25members of the CFBU management team attended LEAN “Train the Trainer” sessions held in Gernsbach. Most importantly is the collaboration across facilities and business units experienced during 2010. Joint Kaizen events were held in which participants collaborated across facilities within business units as well as across business units on a variety of projects to address waste elimination and other process improvements.

Through various new and continuing government grants, we strengthen our operations and performance with skill upgrades and ensure our training dollars go further. Through grant and non-grant support, examples of our training and development initiatives around the world include:

• Welding
• HAZMAT recertification
• Hydraulic troubleshooting
• Safety
• Supervisor/leadership programs
• Introductory & advanced papermaking
• Advanced maintenance
• HVAC
• Human resources
• Tech service
• Machine-specific skills
• Media skills
• IT skills
• In 2007, the State of Ohio awarded a $1.5 million training grant to Workforce Development Area # 1. The grant provides an opportunity for Glatfelter and its employees to help strengthen our Ohio operations and performance with skill upgrades through full reimbursement of various training programs over a three-year period.
• Since 2004 Glatfelter has received over $770,000 in training grant funds from agencies such as the Workforce and Economic Development Network of Pennsylvania (WEDnetPA) and the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania’s Department of Community and Economic Development. The provisions of a portion of the grant required Glatfelter to identify, develop and work toward improving the workforce in order to retain jobs in Pennsylvania. These training grant funds have allowed the organization to improve both the basic skills as well as the technical skills of employees to support current and future organizational needs.
• In 2009 the Lydney, UK, facility secured a £90,000 grant to sponsor additional training for further vocational and skills qualifications training of over 150 employees. In addition to vocational training, the grant also provided increased opportunity for Continuous Improvement training and the implementation of two Kaizen events for 40 employees.