On Thursday, August 15 the Boulder Area Manufacturing Sector Partnership convened at Longmont-based CoverMyMeds, a subsidiary of McKesson, to hear from speakers on current Colorado legislation and how Front Range Community College’s Center for Integrated Manufacturing is supporting the future workforce. Partners also had the opportunity to tour McKesson’s facility following the meeting.
This meeting’s speakers included:
Heidi Hostetter, Founder & CEO of H2 Manufacturing Solutions
Colorado Capital Conference
- The Colorado Capital Conference was held June 11 – 13 in Washington, D.C. and provided the opportunity to hear from the Colorado Delegation on current concerns related to manufacturing operations.
- During the conference, Commissioner of U.S. Bureau of Reclamation Camille Calimlim Touton spoke to the severity of climate change leading to water shortages which could have significant effects on manufacturing processes. U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo and U.S. Senator of Colorado John Hickenlooper both spoke to the opportunities around quantum specifically related to workforce, a large portion of which will be manufacturing positions.
Ken Floyd, Faculty & Program Director at Front Range Community College
Center for Integrated Manufacturing
- FRCC’s Center for Integrated Manufacturing offers four programs in Electronics Engineering Technology (EET), Precision Machining, Optics and Laser Technology, and Automation and Engineering Technology (AET). These programs offer both credit and non-credit classes with 2-year AAS degrees, 1-year academic certificates, and industry short courses.
- Industry partners in Boulder Area Manufacturing Sector Partnership like Lexmark, Excelitas, Medtronic, and others employ many FRCC graduates with an impact of over 185 positions filled by Center for Integrated Manufacturing students over the course of 5 years.
Thank you to McKesson for hosting this meeting and providing a tour of the new facility.
McKesson has recently consolidated their operations from four locations totaling around 50,000 square feet to a single 76,000-square-foot facility in Longmont that houses anywhere from 50-70 employees at a time.
Partners were provided with a tour of this facility to explore the company’s automated pharmacy prescription-refilling manufacturing processes and learn more about the successful consolidation.