1. THE COMPANY
Dow Chemical Co.,
Texas Operations
THE CHALLENGE
Upgrading the competencies
of Dow Process Technicians
through development and
implementation of skill
training programs
THE SOLUTION
WorkKeys®
and ACT’s
Consulting Services
THE RESULTS
A systematic workforce
development plan that
diagnoses employee skill
gaps and provides training
to close those gaps; Dow is
rolling out WorkKeys at
its plants worldwide
Situation
Dow Chemical depends on the expertise of its Process Technicians—the
employees who run the physical aspects of its plants, such as operation
and repair of machinery. With more than 5,000 Process Technicians in
54 plant locations, Dow was searching for a way to assure that its
workforce was ready to meet new technological advances, as well as the
skill loss of upcoming retirements.
Dow looked to Brazosport College in Lake Jackson, Texas, whose
Center for Business/Industry Training (CBIT) is a pioneer in the field of
academic-business partnerships in training and development.
Needs
As Dow upgraded the hiring requirement for the Process Technician
position to reflect the rapidly changing nature of the job, the company
knew it would have to offer training to help some current employees
stay competitive and be effective. Dow and CBIT would have to meet
four goals:
• Redefine the Process Technician position
• Create a technical training needs assessment
• Determine and assess foundational skills needed to complete that
assessment
• Provide the remediation necessary for employees
Solution
ACT’s WorkKeys Development and Consulting Services teams worked
with Dow and CBIT to create a system to give current employees the
tools they need to grow with their company. The system includes:
Skills Analysis
A WorkKeys job profiler worked with Dow subject matter experts to
determine the skill levels required to perform the core skills for the
Process Technician position. The skills identified were Applied
Mathematics, Applied Technology, Locating Information, Reading for
Information, Observation, and Teamwork
(continued)
CASE STUDY
Dow Uses WorkKeys®
to Prepare Employees
for Advanced Training
1-800/WORKKEY
www.workkeys.com

2. Process Technology Skills Assessment
ACT worked with the Dow/CBIT partnership to develop a Process
Technology Skills Assessment (PTSA). Dow and CBIT put together the
framework for the test. ACT made sure the questions were clear,
nondiscriminatory, and technically sound.
Foundational Skills Assessment
One unique aspect of the project was the use of WorkKeys as a
foundational skills assessment. ACT helped CBIT build a foundational
skills assessment by examining each test item and deciding what skills
workers would need to complete the assessment.
“Our goal was to allow everyone to have a fair chance at succeeding at
the Process Technology Skills Assessment,” said Larry Kirby, safety and
technical training coordinator of CBIT. “To do that, we needed to assess
their foundational skills and provide the training needed to enhance
those skills.”
Skills Training
Process Technicians who score below the WorkKeys skill levels set on
the Foundational Skills Assessment are offered training through CBIT
to enhance their skills. Employees testing at the levels suggested are
able to take the PTSA.
After taking the PTSA, employees who do not meet the WorkKeys skill
levels are again offered training to enhance their skills.
Results
More than 1,400 Dow Process Technicians have taken Phase I of the
Foundational Skills Assessment, and many employees have started
Phase II.
The ACT, Dow, and CBIT partnership is producing a workforce
development plan that links training and job skills through assessment.
For Dow, the plan provides a baseline from which to build an
employee-friendly development plan focused on individual needs. The
company is looking to expand this testing to areas beyond plant
operations—to disciplines such as electrical, instrumentation, and office
professionals.
Outlook
After WorkKeys-related success stories at its Texas and Michigan
locations, Dow is now rolling out WorkKeys use in its plants worldwide.
ACT also is working with Dow to create a series of occupational
certification exams targeted at key positions in the chemical, oil, and
gas industries.
“We needed some sort
of valid assessment of
the workers’
foundational skills that
we could apply over
some broad-based
effort—something that
we can depend on to
give us a consistent
evaluation. We chose
WorkKeys because it is
broad-based and
EEOC-compliant, it
has enough history
that it can be
depended upon, and
we chose it because it’s
a fair assessment of
foundational skills. We
can count on it to be
the same, whether
we’re in Texas or
Louisiana or wherever
we are.”
Larry Kirby, safety and
technical training coordinator,
Center for Business/Industry
Training, Brazosport College
© 2006 by ACT, Inc. All rights reserved. IC 0410SL070 12/06
9298