Henniges Automotive

CareerTech partnership is driving force behind auto parts manufacturer.

Then: In the tiny town of Frederick, Oklahoma, Henniges Automotive manufactures parts for companies like GM, Ford and BMW. It’s a thriving company that has been around for four decades. With only 4,000 people living in the blue collar community, however, it has been tough to find enough qualified employees to keep up with the company’s growth.

Henniges recently formed a partnership with Great Plains Technology Center, and together they created an Intro to Manufacturing class that is offered several times a year. Great Plains hosts the class, as well as

• Helping recruit new students.
• Providing an instructor for six hours of safety training.
• Providing teaching assistance for the certification instructor (who had no previous classroom experience).

Working with Great Plains, the novice certification instructor was able to build a class schedule, create a syllabus and make a smooth transition into teaching.

Now: The manufacturing class has helped Henniges reduce both turnover and absenteeism. Having employees who pay for the six-week certification class shows their commitment to the job. It also increases the employees’ knowledge once they’re hired.

”The safety training allows new employees to help maintain the culture of safety expected in the plant.”

Chase Massie, Henniges human resources manager