Wednesday, January 14, 2009 10:31
At Marathon's refinery, a refinery operator's work is in the field of process technology. An operator handles a broad range of functions from safely operating units, interpreting lab results and taking action to optimize unit operations and product quality to identifying and communicating changes in equipment performance, work orders or unit conditions. It is a career position with important responsibilities.
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In 2008 Marathon Oil began construction on the refinery portion of the Detroit Heavy Oil Upgrade Project (DHOUP), which will add new equipment at Marathon's Detroit refinery (Michigan's only refinery) to process heavier crude oil from Canada. This project will increase the refinery's capacity from approximately 102,000 barrels per day to 115,000, adding more than 400,000 gallons per day of clean transportation fuel to the marketplace.
As part of Marathon's expansion and negotiations with the city of Detroit, it agreed to help develop a technical training curriculum that would help prepare the local work force for the positions that would be created. This curriculum would also help prepare students for process technology positions. Thus, the Regional Skills Alliance, convened by the Chamber, brought together community colleges in the region, Marathon Oil and other employers in the region that could benefit from tailored manufacturing training.
Q. Why Detroit?
A. As you know, Marathon is expanding its Detroit refinery, which is the only refinery in the state of Michigan. Construction has already begun on the project. Once it is completed, we will need to fill approximately 135 new jobs at the refinery created by the expansion. We also have openings for operators and other technical positions occasionally that occur through annual attrition and other factors.
As part of our partnership with the city of Detroit and the community, Marathon is working with local community colleges, the Detroit Workforce Development Department and other local industry to develop a technical training curriculum for process technology careers.
In addition, Marathon has agreed to provide scholarships for up to 10 Detroit residents to participate in the training program annually for 10 years.
Q. Any thoughts about Marathon's role in creating manufacturing jobs in Michigan?
A. Marathon has been a part of Detroit for 50 years. Marathon Oil purchased the Detroit refinery in 1959 and we have continued to improve the facility ever since. We need skilled, qualified personnel to ensure that our refinery continues to operate in a safe, efficient and environmentally responsible manner.
A college-level process technology curriculum goes a long way toward ensuring that we'll be able to find and hire qualified personnel from right here in the city of Detroit and Southeastern Michigan.
Of course, Marathon doesn't hire enough people annually to support an entire curriculum alone. But the region continues to shift away from traditional manufacturing jobs, such as assembly line work, toward more knowledge-based, process-oriented careers. In addition to Marathon, there are opportunities with other process industries.
That is why we're excited to be working with a growing consortium of companies, community colleges and local government to help prepare the local workforce for careers to meet the needs and expectations of industry.
Q. Does Marathon have a long history of working with the regional skills alliance, or if not, what made Marathon turn to them?
A. Marathon agreed to work with local community colleges and the Detroit Workforce Development Department to develop a technical training curriculum for industrial positions.
The Regional Manufacturing Skills Alliance has the great ability to connect our efforts to the broader marketplace of businesses and industries that need and rely on process technicians. The organization has the vision, connections and resources to really move this initiative forward toward building a new labor force in the region.
So we're thrilled about the work they're doing to support the kinds of jobs that would benefit from a process technology curriculum. The partnership is a natural fit for what we all are trying to accomplish in building the future of Detroit and Michigan.
Q. What kind of manufacturing jobs does this produce?
A. These aren't your father's or grandfather's type of manufacturing jobs. Process-based manufacturing involves the manufacturing of a variety of products, such as refining crude oil into transportation fuels. Other process industries include chemicals, pharmaceuticals, pulp and paper manufacturing, and power generation, just to name a few.
These are technical careers that require applied math and science skills. The work environments are often technologically intense and typically run 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
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We are in your backdoor on Francis Street that is trying to achieve new work in hard times.
If you are not the right person I apologize for taking up your time and maybe you can point me in the right direction for the right person.
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SALEM INDUSTRIAL MAINTENANCE CORP.
Corbett Crider, Sr.
Owner