Victaulic's Linda Nittle with Tim Mason on shop floor.

All of this couldn't be done without the commitment of Victaulic employees, Linda Nittle reminds us. Linda is the manufacturing training facilitator/visitor experience coordinator at Victaulic and she is responsible for performance development programs at all levels of the company. “There's a lot of commitment and dedication of Victaulic employees,” says Linda. “I think it stems from the fact that we support one another and understand that production is the lifeline of our company. The focus on our futu re starts with our employees.”

Northampton Community College 's Center for Business & Industry couldn't agree more. “We have had an ongoing relationship with Victaulic for training and development support for as long as I can remember,” says Kent Zimmerman, NCC's associate dean, Technology. “Their Alburtis plant utilizes the college's electrical apprentice program; at the Forks facility, we offer Industrial Math, Blueprint Reading and we assisted them with ISO 9000 Quality Training. Lately, we are assisting them on WEDnet state training funding, support the college offers to all companies in the region.”

Privately owned, Victaulic corporate offices and primary U.S. manufacturing site are located in Forks Township , north of Easton . The company has grown and has many foreign operations, including those in Canada , and Poland and Ireland , as well as several Lehigh Valley locations and eleven sales offices branches throughout the United States .

Having joined the company 23 years ago, serving in several quality control capacities, Linda was promoted to handle training and development in 1996. “I had a rapport with our employees on the manufacturing floor and could gain their confidences in helping them to learn how to do a better job.” She has been the key trainer for the Quality Improvement Process Program since the early 1990's and has taken the program overseas, working with a translator to convey knowledge to employees at the company's Poland plant. She also contributed to the development of the ISO program that led to certification in 1991. The company offers a college reimbursement program, which Linda administers, and she is not shy about encouraging employees to take advantage of educational opportunities at Northampton or elsewhere. “We currently have five employees going for degrees at Northampton , and several others are on the fence.” With the United Steelworkers of America (USW) partners in the Victaulic business, the company's management and labor philosophy is aligned on promoting the value of education. “We give a lot of credit to our Industrial Relations Director, George Werkheiser, who has served both USW and management needs. He sees the value of both parties in this business, which continues to grow.”

“We have always been able to rely on Northampton Community College for training and development,” says Linda. “As a leader in mechanical piping systems, we are constantly seeking ways to improve the quality of our products. We are always working on OSHA training, supervisory training, and lately, working on lean manufacturing practices. Northampton has been a good source for added support when we need it.”

One new area that the Industrial Relations department has introduced is the “ Victaulic Leadership College .” Conducted two times per year, the program is designed to train new supervisors and managers with best practices for better management. “As a growing company, we need our employees to be empowered, to view this training as an investment in the future. They have the ideas; they are part of the solution.”

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