Weyerhaeuser's commitment to education: Educational initiatives build on Weyerhaeuser's lifelong learning philosophy. (Corporate Profile).Lifelong learning Lifelong learning is the concept that "It's never too soon or too late for learning", a philosophy that has taken root in a whole host of different organisations. Lifelong learning is attitudinal; that one can and should be open to new ideas, decisions, skills or behaviors. , whether through employee skill development or community-based education, is an integral part of Weyerhaeuser's philosophy. Weyerhaeuser's acuity acuity /acu·i·ty/ (ah-ku´i-te) clarity or clearness, especially of vision. a·cu·i·ty n. Sharpness, clearness, and distinctness of perception or vision. and commitment to education is visible throughout all areas of the company and is most apparent in ongoing educational initiatives, some that have been a part of the company for decades. Weyerhaeuser, one of the world's largest producers of softwood softwood Timber obtained from coniferous trees (mainly of the pine and fir families). With the exception of bald cypress, tamarack, and larch, softwood trees are evergreens. lumber lumber, term for timber that has been cut into boards for use as a building material. The major steps in producing lumber involve logging (the felling and preparation of timber for shipment to sawmills), sawing the logs into boards, grading the boards according to , engineered wood products and softwood market pulp, "allots a substantial amount of money to training and education," not just to enable its employees to reach their full potential, but also to support educational initiatives in the community, says Norm Bush, vice-president of Weyerhaeuser's Ontario operations. "If we are going to be a strong player we need to ensure that our people have the best possible training over the long term," Bush says. "Focusing on education now will position us to remain competitive in the future." Learning Centre opens The Weyerhaeuser Learning Centre in Dryden is one example of the company's ongoing educational initiatives that builds on its philosophy. In keeping with the nature of the company's products, dignitaries at the Oct 15th grand opening in Dryden cut a roll of paper rather than the traditional ribbon. The new facility in Dryden ties in with one of Weyerhaeuser's core values, says Bush. The learning centre "supports Weyerhaeuser's belief that education and training are key factors in making-our operations more competitive in world markets. It is part of the strategic plan for our company to develop our employees' skills and abilities in an effort to secure both their future and that of the company." The facility will provide training for employees from Weyerhaeuser's Dryden site and from other sites across Ontario. The learning centre was conceived as a place where people could learn in a positive, neutral environment, says Lorrie Lough Lough (lŏkh, lŏk). For names of Irish lakes and inlets beginning with "Lough," see second part of element; e.g., for Lough Corrib, see Corrib, Lough. See lake. , training co-ordinator. "When we walk through the door everyone figuratively fig·u·ra·tive adj. 1. a. Based on or making use of figures of speech; metaphorical: figurative language. b. Containing many figures of speech; ornate. 2. checks their hat," Lough says. "We're not union, we're not management, we're not contractors; we're all here to learn." That was the intention, since the project's inception, says Bonny Bonny (bŏn`ē), town, SE Nigeria, in the Niger River delta, on the Bight of Biafra. In the 18th and 19th cent., Bonny was the center of a powerful trading state, and in the 19th cent. it became the leading site for slave exportation in W Africa. Skene skene In ancient Greek theatre, a building behind the playing area that was originally a hut in which actors changed masks and costumes. It eventually became the scenic backdrop for the drama. First used c. , manager of organizational effectiveness Organizational effectiveness is the concept of how effective an organization is in achieving the outcomes the organization intends to produce. The idea of organizational effectiveness is especially important for non-profit organizations as most people who donate money to non-profit for the Dryden operation. "The concept was developed in a co-operative way with our four bargaining units A bargaining unit in labor relations is a group of employees with a clear and identifiable community of interests who are (under U.S. law) represented by a single labor union in collective bargaining and other dealings with management. ; they have been our partners every step of the way," Skene says. The idea was incorporated into the very design of the 4,500-square -metre (15,000-square-foot) building. The facility's conference room is circular, says Skene, because it is modelled after a tree trunk A communications channel between two points. It generally refers to a high-bandwidth, fiber-optic line between telephone switching centers (central offices). Telephone "trunks" handle thousands of simultaneous voice and data signals, whereas telephone "lines" are the wires from the , and because the circle is a sacred Aboriginal symbol. Surrounding sur·round tr.v. sur·round·ed, sur·round·ing, sur·rounds 1. To extend on all sides of simultaneously; encircle. 2. To enclose or confine on all sides so as to bar escape or outside communication. n. corridors suggest the growth rings of a tree, representing the growth and development of those who will use the facility, she says. The two-storey centre houses meeting and project rooms, computer labs, reception areas and a maintenance training shop which can simulate simulate - simulation any equipment that exists in the mill, from hydraulics hydraulics, branch of engineering concerned mainly with moving liquids. The term is applied commonly to the study of the mechanical properties of water, other liquids, and even gases when the effects of compressibility are small. to instrumentation instrumentation, in music: see orchestra and orchestration. instrumentation In technology, the development and use of precise measuring, analysis, and control equipment. and overhead cranes An overhead crane is a type of crane where the hook-and-line mechanism runs along a horizontal beam that runs along two widely separated rails. Often it is in a long factory building and runs along rails along the building's two long walls. . "The maintenance, shop will give us the ability to train people more safely on this equipment," Bush says. "The equipment (in the learning centre) is virtually identical to what they will be working with in the plant, and there will be no interference with production." Formerly, training for some tasks had to be carried out on the actual equipment in the mill. In certain cases, machinery would be shut down in order for trainees to learn safely. Building opportunities The Weyerhaeuser Company Ltd.'s First Nations Summer Student Program is yet another example of the company's proactive approach to education. The program was launched in 1995 "as part of an overall strategy to create economic opportunities for First Nations individuals in the area," says Murray Ferguson, forest resource manager. Two-students are selected annually by each of four First Nations communities near Dryden and Ear Falls where Weyerhaeuser mills are based. During July and August, the students participate in forestry work and have the opportunity to visit and tour various forestry-related operations. Participating students develop knowledge and job skills, which in turn translates to an increase in their confidence and self-esteem, Ferguson says. Weyerhaeuser also benefits through "the development of potential future employees for our company or our contractors," he adds. Another public education opportunity is provided through the Dryden High School conservation course, which has been running since 1957. Sixty Grade 10 students participate in the three-day course each year, studying the wise use and conservation of all resources and the interactions between them, says Ferguson. "Surprisingly, and this is a credit to the people who designed the course back in the 1950s, the overall content of the course has not changed substantially, at least not in the main subject areas," Ferguson says. Instructors bring up-to-date information within their areas of expertise to the classroom, he says. Weyerhaeuser supports-efforts to educate teachers as well as students. One such initiative is the Key Foundation, a national organization which runs workshops and seminars for school teachers on resource-based industries. "The intent is to give the teachers-another view of these industries," Bush says. "It's a unique opportunity to see and do things tour industrial operations, visit remote sites -- they otherwise couldn't." The Ontario Forestry Association runs a-similar program for Ontario teachers. Both organizations are independent and unbiased, says Bush. As part of their commitment to education in the community, Weyerhaeuser also offers academic awards at the local and regional level-and, donates generously each year to the scholarship fund of the Aboriginal Achievement. Awards Foundation. "Almost every Weyerhaeuser facility in the country provides some sort of scholarship or bursary bur·sa·ry n. pl. bur·sa·ries 1. A treasury, especially of a public institution or religious order. 2. Chiefly British A scholarship granted to a university student in need. to their local secondary school," Bush says. These include scholarships to promote diversity in the workforce and to support women entering non-traditional occupations. "We feel we have an obligation to educate the public about sustainable forestry Sustainable forestry is a forest management practice. The basic tenet of sustainable forestry is that the amount of goods and services yielded from a forest should be at a level the forest is capable of producing without degradation of the soil, watershed features or seed source ," Bush says. "We also feel we have an obligation to the community to support educational initiatives." Looking ahead As part of their strategy to better position the company in world markets, Weyerhaeuser is also planning educational initiatives for the future. As an example, the company introduced individual development plans for employees in 2000, and the concept is working its way through the company, Bush says. Employees are asked to evaluate the skills they now have, and the skills they would need to reach their goals, then assess the training they would require. "This is part of the concept that each person is encouraged to be part of their own improvement," Bush explains. "We expect with the learning centre, with the focus on education, with supporting the diverse population in the North in terms of job opportunities and education, that we will be a very strong player in the world market" in years to come, Bush says. More information on the company and its operations can be found at www.weyerhaeuser.com |
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