Henderson Products Teams Up with NICC

Manchester Manufacturer Henderson Products Teams Up with NICC for Customized Welding Training

The best teachers know that a combination of teaching methods – classroom lecture, hands-on training and learning by doing – make a lasting impact on a student’s success.

That’s the winning formula Henderson Products Inc. is using to train new welding employees. Henderson designs and manufactures multi-purpose equipment for heavy-duty work trucks, and enrolls its employees in customized three-week training courses developed with Northeast Iowa Community College (NICC) and welding instructor, Seth Harms.

Working closely with Harms on curriculum for the beginning- and intermediate-level courses brings new hires up to speed. The combination of lecture, weld lab training and On-The-Job (OTJ) mentoring prepares

employees for product manufacturing while ensuring Henderson’s high quality standards, said Tom Kenny, Henderson weld engineer.

“The employees enrolled in this training have been successful as we grow as a company. We approached NICC about the training because we needed welding instruction specific and focused to Henderson’s processes,” Kenny said. “This training has been great for Henderson. It allows us to develop talent from within and everyone gets the training, attention and experience they need.”

As an instructor, Harms believes that working closely with Henderson on the program’s curriculum is the key to meeting the company’s training needs. NICC hosts the training at the West Delaware High School Weld Lab.

“The struggle for companies that rely only on OTJ is the learning curve for new employees. That is an important part of Henderson’s training approach also, but it works even better when employees can ask questions and learn concepts in class and lab work,” Harms stated.

Harms explained that he is currently teaching courses for individuals who are at about the same level of welding ability. “Henderson Products and I have worked very closely on the teaching content. It’s important for instructors to meet the needs of local industry,” he said.

THE COLLEGE IS READY TO WORK WITH YOUR COMPANY’S CUSTOMIZED TRAINING NEEDS.

www.nicc.edu/customized-solutions