CAWP offers a Management Skills Training Program in the form of a set of 9 short, affordable online training courses for wood products manufacturers. Each module has email and phone support from a tutor, and costs are $445 (6 week courses) and $495 (8 week courses). Program development was funded by the Wood Manufacturing Council in 2009, and it is open to all.
Who Should Attend?
- Entrepreneurs in the wood products industry who need to learn about and implement various management systems in order to delegate responsibilities and focus on business growth
- Management or supervisory-track employees within wood products companies of all sizes who need to gain new skills to move into positions of greater responsibility
- Employees who need to understand specific functions within their company in order to do their own jobs more efficiently (e.g. salespeople who need to understand how production decisions are made and vice versa)
- People from non-wood products backgrounds who are preparing to take on supervisory or management roles in the industry
The course modules each require approx. 35-45 hours of study over a six-week or eight-week period, (depending on the module). They are written specifically for the wood products industry, and include numerous case studies and industry examples. Graphics and diagrams are all used extensively.
Participants can either take just one or two individual courses to fill a particular interest or gap in their knowledge, or choose any six modules (or 5 plus a supervised individual project) to obtain a WMC Management Certificate qualification. Each module is offered at least twice a year, and learners move through each course together, interacting and sharing information and experiences.
Feedback from Participants
Several hundred industry professionals have benefitted from the Management Skills Training Program in its five years of operation. Here are some typical learner comments:
“The course content was very interesting and added a great deal to my understanding of manufacturing. The other learners offered a variety of opinions in the discussions which greatly enriched the course experience”.
“The course was quite flexible and easy to follow. The quizzes at the end of each module were very helpful.”
“It was a fun course to take as a cabinet maker. Everything discussed is related to our business.”
“I was always interested in taking a formal session on sales and marketing, but never had a convenient opportunity. This fit my schedule quite well, and the demand and challenge of completing it was just right considering my other work and life responsibilities. Thanks for this experience.”
“The course gave me new tools to make my job as a production manager easier.”