Superb challenges Ohio to invest $891 million in technical training

Superb Industries Inc., a high-volume producer of engineered metal and plastic components in Sugarcreek, Ohio, has announced that company President John Miller recently testified at the statehouse before the Ohio House of Representatives Agriculture and Rural Development committee about the importance of technical training.

“Without a significant investment in technical training, advanced manufacturing is just another political pipe dream that will go nowhere," Miller told the committee. "If Ohio is serious about a future in manufacturing, then we must invest an equivalent amount in training to put us on par with Germany—that is $891 million per year."

He suggested that the state consider reinvesting Ohio Bureau of Workers’ Compensation $1 billion surplus into training.

Miller explained that the German public sector invests $5.9 billion and the private sector contributes another $8.5 billion to equip 500,000 technicians each year with the skillsets required to compete globally. Miller also explained how he founded Superb Technical Institute (STI) in 2012 to meet the company’s growing technical training needs amidst a lack of programs for advanced manufacturing. Since 2012 STI has trained more than 75 employees, certified 12 technicians to journeyman status, and credentialed 14 technical experts as Ohio adult educators. The institute currently employs two German technical trainers, and others come on a rotating basis as needed.

Testifying with Miller was STI Director of Bihler Training & Development Arthur Lorenz and STI Tool & Die Apprentice Lavern Miller. Lorenz is a graduate of the German GO:VET program and certified by the German department of commerce to teach German toolmaking standards. He described the German training process to the committee.

Lavern Miller testified how he participated in the STI and Bihler exchange program, which gave him the opportunity to go to Germany for a four-month training program, and described the technical skills he learned during the program.