16 MiMfg Magazine February 2017
Member Spotlight
When your business is based on extending lives and saving lives , no challenge can be left unsolved . Finding , training and retaining talented skilled workers is a challenge for almost every employer — including global giants like Pfizer . The Pfizer brand is synonymous with the entire health care manufacturing sector , meaning a lack of new talent could have devastating repercussions .
“ Many of our sites , including the one located right here in Kalamazoo , are working hard to keep operations at home ,” says Bob Betzig , site leader for Pfizer ’ s Kalamazoo facility . “ This happens by controlling our costs , refocusing efforts to improve processes , and , perhaps something that still doesn ’ t get enough attention , bringing in the people capable of managing world class technology .”
Technology can be purchased by anyone and located anywhere in the world . However , the right people must be hired to successfully use that technology , and today those skilled men and women aren ’ t easy to find . Advanced manufacturing workers must have the skills to specify
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We ’ re reaching out to educators across Michigan to help students throughout the state ’ s K-12 system see that STEM skills and skilled trades training are viable , exciting paths which result in well-paying careers .
the equipment , configure it to meet specific standards , install and validate it based on exact government regulations , manage it , solve any problems which arise , and make sure all aspects of it remain compliant over time .
“ We have an incredible team leveraging our world-class technology , but finding the next generation of Pfizer employees is becoming difficult , especially in Michigan ,” says Betzig . “ There is an industry-wide need for skilled STEM professionals like engineers , chemists and microbiologists . At the same time , the pool for these candidates is limited .”
Unlike professionals who can be drawn in regionally or even nationally , skilled trades talent tends to be found more locally and the resources for such
A Pfizer aseptic operator in full aseptic gowning performs work through an aseptic half-suit as he loads sterile primary packaging components into the filling equipment .
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training programs is very underfunded . Manufacturers like Pfizer must work twice as hard today to find half the interested workers as in past decades .
“ One area we ’ ve worked to improve in is engaging with students earlier ,” says Betzig . “ We ’ re reaching out to educators across Michigan to help students throughout the state ’ s K-12 system see that STEM skills and skilled trades training are viable , exciting paths which result in well-paying careers .”
Over the next decade , Pfizer ’ s commitment to people will grow stronger . In addition to their support of Michigan ’ s talent effort , Pfizer makes huge investments to drive growth . Over the last decade , the Kalamazoo plant has invested over $ 800 million to modernize operations , expand capacity , improve safety , and increase efficiency — all designed to attract the next generation of talent . They expect to invest another $ 800 million over the next five years .
“ After 33 years at this site , I ’ ve learned that it ’ s all about having the right people within the right culture ,” says Betzig . “ The team of leaders and colleagues we have , and the new talented young workers we are looking to hire , are capable of anything . We are making products that save lives and working at a place whose mission is the improved health of people — there ’ s no better feeling than being part of that .” 6