CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- Wilbert Plastic Services is expanding its own de-facto university, to help make up for a severe industry skills gap and the areas growing demand.

  • Reports say the manufacturing industry could be short millions of people in a decade
  • Wilbert U aims to train employees through company's eight locations
  • Charlotte has attracted more than 60 new manufacturing businesses in 2017

Wilbert U, an internal training program, covers employee job training and certifications with more than 5,500 completed courses through the company’s eight locations.

“Technical demands only get stronger,” Wilbert Plastic Services president & CEO Greg Botner said. “Artificial intelligence is right around the corner. And robotics is big for us, and  that’s almost yesterday's news."

According to Forbes, the manufacturing industry could face a 2 million employee deficit in the next ten years.

"The educational system has not kept up with what the technical needs of our business are,” Botner said. “Employees need to be trained  in many different facets at a level above what it used to be."

Wilbert Plastics Services credits Wilbert U for an 18 percent drop in it’s turnover rate last year.

The Charlotte area attracted 63 new manufacturing companies or expansions last year, according to the Charlotte Regional Partnership.

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