| Client
Profile:
Anel
Corporation
Anel Corporation is located on Highway 51 in Carroll County just
south of the Montgomery County line in Mississippi. Anel Corporation
is a custom fabricator of steel products. The company builds components
that fit into final products for companies such as Caterpillar and
other steel utilizing companies. One product that has really taken
off is the production of hydraulic tanks that are super clean inside
which prevents breakdown problems commonly related to particles
in fluid. In December of 2005, Anel Corporation ranked number seven
by the Mississippi Business Journal in its prestigious annual listing
of “Fast 40” companies.
Situation:
While the company has developed a “niche” with the tank
manufacturing, it does so much more. Caterpillar, one of Anel’s
largest clients, buys chassis from the company to use in giant vehicles
used in above ground mining operations. This increased productivity
and the resulting sales numbers as listed in Mississippi’s
Business Journal led to the need to expand in multiple directions.
Not only were new jobs created, but the need to expand capacity
and train new employees also increased. In a December 2005 interview,
Randy Watkins, plant manager, reported that the expansion would
increase manufacturing capacity by 36 percent which would result
in a rise in business and jobs.
Solution:
With Anel working with the city of Winona and the EDP (The Economic
Partnership of Montgomery County) to obtain a grant for sewer service
to the plant, Anel has been able to expand its production capacity.
The company addressed its Workforce Training needs by strengthening
the already existing partnership with the MEP.ms Center Grenada
Center of Holmes Community College’s Workforce Development
Department. Through this partnership, Anel offers pre and post employment
training to give people the skills they need to become welders,
machinists and computer numeric control operators. Team management,
safety and forklift training are other job specific training offered
through this partnership. In 2005, the company had one training
trailer on site. Mississippi Workforce Training through the SBCJC
and MEP.ms Center Holmes Community College added a second training
trailer just to be able to provide pre and post employment training,
assessment and job specific training for the company’s expansion.
Then a welding trailer specifically customized to meet Anel’s
individual training needs, including eight welding machines along
with specific training modules, training materials and a certified
trainer, was added this past year. MEP.ms Center Holmes Community
College Workforce training also offers six sigma and 5S quality
training, leadership and customer service training and other entry
level production training as requested.
Results:
Anel began with 80 employees and the first expansion created 75
new jobs. As of January 19, 2007 Anel employs 170 individuals. Plant
Manager, Randy Watkins, says, “We feel like our business is
only limited by the number of skilled employees that we can hire.
So there is a lot of room for growth.”
Testimonial:
Plant Manager, Randy Watkins, says, “We feel like our business
is only limited by the number of skilled employees that we can hire.
So there is a lot of room for growth.”
Client Contact: Randy Watkins, Plant Manager
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