VOL. 08 | ISSUE 3 | Fall 2025
Building Skills,
Raising Standards
A Clear Path to Growth
At Freeport, safe production starts with people.
To support employees in their roles, the company is transitioning to a skills-based learning model. This means creating a consistent, standardized approach to training and performance across all sites and levels – from frontline workers to senior leaders.
Currently, training and expectations can vary by site, and even within the same job title. These inconsistencies can lead to gaps in skills, safety risks and missed opportunities for development. Skills-based learning is designed to close those gaps.
“We’re building a future where employees know what’s expected of them, where leaders have full visibility into team capabilities, and where training is more than a requirement – it’s a strategic advantage,” said Erich Bower, General Manager-Strategic Workforce Development.
The transition includes a comprehensive review of core competencies for different roles, aligning training and assessments to those standards, and ensuring learning happens where the work happens – in the field. Leading this effort is the Talent and Training project team, working alongside experienced employees to shape uniform standards that gradually will be implemented, starting in North America and expanding globally.
“We’re building a future where employees know what’s
expected of them, where leaders have full visibility into
team capabilities, and where training is more than a
requirement – it’s a strategic advantage.”
ERICH BOWER | GENERAL MANAGER | STRATEGIC WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT
While there will be flexibility to address site-specific needs, the standards themselves will be applied consistently across the company, regardless of location, department or supervisor. For example, a heavy equipment mechanic at one site will be expected to meet the same standards as a mechanic at any other site.
“We’re focused on helping employees grow in their career and get to the next level,” Bower said. “The tools we use to support various roles might look different, but the skills we expect for your role will be consistent across the company.”
As the new standards take shape, employees will gain clearer expectations in their roles, along with personalized training that’s relevant and directly tied to their work. Leaders will have a reliable way to set expectations, manage performance and identify where additional support is needed.
Over time, this approach will help build a more agile workforce ready to respond to evolving business needs across sites, Bower said. Most importantly, it will help ensure employees have the essential skills for their roles – and can confidently demonstrate them, enhancing safety, productivity and accountability to operational standards.
And as employees build and apply new skills, they’ll unlock new opportunities – whether that means moving into a new role, taking on more responsibility or exploring different paths across the company. With clear standards in place, it’ll be easier to see what’s needed to take the next step – supporting employees in their career journey and encouraging them to stay at Freeport.
“It’s not just about taking a class,” said Chad Fretz, General Manager, Technical Training-Americas. “It’s about taking the class, getting the knowledge and applying it in the field. Just attending class doesn’t create business value – but using what you’ve learned in your job, and doing it safely, absolutely does.”
As the new standards take shape, employees will gain clearer expectations in their roles, along with personalized training that’s relevant and directly tied to their work. Leaders will have a reliable way to set expectations, manage performance and identify where additional support is needed.
Over time, this approach will help build a more agile workforce ready to respond to evolving business needs across sites, Bower said. Most importantly, it will help ensure employees have the essential skills for their roles – and can confidently demonstrate them, enhancing safety, productivity and accountability to operational standards.
And as employees build and apply new skills, they’ll unlock new opportunities – whether that means moving into a new role, taking on more responsibility or exploring different paths across the company. With clear standards in place, it’ll be easier to see what’s needed to take the next step – supporting employees in their career journey and encouraging them to stay at Freeport.
“It’s not just about taking a class,” said Chad Fretz, General Manager, Technical Training-Americas. “It’s about taking the class, getting the knowledge and applying it in the field. Just attending class doesn’t create business value – but using what you’ve learned in your job, and doing it safely, absolutely does.”
“Just attending class doesn’t create business value – but using what you’ve learned in your job, and doing it safely, absolutely does.”