{"id":3046,"date":"2025-06-20T20:39:31","date_gmt":"2025-06-20T20:39:31","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/fmminermag.com\/htdocs\/?post_type=issue-article&p=3046"},"modified":"2025-07-25T16:35:03","modified_gmt":"2025-07-25T16:35:03","slug":"company-unveils-a-new-vision-for-workforce-training","status":"publish","type":"issue-article","link":"https:\/\/fmminermag.com\/htdocs\/issue-article\/company-unveils-a-new-vision-for-workforce-training\/","title":{"rendered":"Company Unveils a New Vision for Workforce Training"},"content":{"rendered":"

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VOL. 08\u00a0 |\u00a0 ISSUE 2\u00a0 |\u00a0 Summer 2025<\/p>\n

[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row admin_label=”Row” _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” background_color=”RGBA(255,255,255,0)” custom_margin=”50px||||false|false” custom_padding=”0px||0px||false|false” background_color_phone=”#FFFFFF” background_last_edited=”on|phone” background_enable_color_phone=”on” custom_css_main_element=”display: flex;||flex-wrap: wrap;” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” background_color=”RGBA(255,255,255,0)” background_color_phone=”RGBA(255,255,255,0)” background_last_edited=”on|phone” background_enable_color_phone=”on” global_colors_info=”{}” custom_css_main_element_last_edited=”on|phone” custom_css_main_element_phone=”order: 2;||”][et_pb_text admin_label=”Taviraj MAIN HEADLINE” _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” header_font=”Taviraj|300|||||||” header_text_color=”#b2a36f” header_font_size=”90px” header_letter_spacing=”-1px” header_line_height=”1.1em” custom_margin=”0px||5px||false|false” custom_margin_tablet=”0px||5px||false|false” custom_margin_phone=”|||35px|false|false” custom_margin_last_edited=”on|phone” header_font_size_tablet=”90px” header_font_size_phone=”50px” header_font_size_last_edited=”on|phone” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n

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A New Vision for Workforce Training<\/h1>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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Company Unveils a New Vision for Workforce Training <\/h2>\n

[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text admin_label=”Body Text” _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” text_font=”Fira Sans Condensed|300|||||||” text_text_color=”#4d4d4f” text_font_size=”18px” text_line_height=”1.5em” header_3_font=”Fira Sans Condensed|600|||||||” header_3_text_color=”#4d4d4f” header_3_font_size=”18px” header_3_line_height=”1.5em” custom_padding=”||||false|false” custom_padding_tablet=”|125px|||false|false” custom_padding_phone=”|0px|||false|false” custom_padding_last_edited=”on|phone” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n

Freeport is launching a new approach to training to equip employees with the skills they need to succeed \u2013 both in their current roles and in the careers they aspire to build.<\/p>\n

This multi-year initiative marks a shift from traditional, course-based training to a skills-based model focused on real-world application, consistency across sites and long-term career development. The goal: help ensure operations can safely achieve production targets while empowering employees to thrive.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019re completely rethinking how we train, because what worked in the past doesn\u2019t meet today\u2019s needs,\u201d said Erich Bower, General Manager-Strategic Workforce Development. \u201cThis is about making training more consistent, effective and impactful \u2013 for our people, for their careers and for Freeport\u2019s future\u201d<\/p>\n

Development of employee skills has always been important at Freeport. It\u2019s part of the company\u2019s commitment to Proudly Creating Better Futures<\/em> and one of the Freeport Five<\/em> \u2013 a set of operational principles established by President and Chief Executive Officer Kathleen Quirk. In addition, the five strategic themes that guide efforts to safely achieve production targets in the Americas also emphasize Freeport\u2019s commitment to providing employees with the knowledge and tools they need to succeed.<\/p>\n

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Development of employee skills has always been important at Freeport. It\u2019s part of the company\u2019s commitment to Proudly Creating Better Futures and one of the Freeport Five.<\/h3>\n

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In addition, the five strategic themes that guide efforts to safely achieve production targets in the Americas also emphasize Freeport\u2019s commitment to providing employees with the knowledge and tools they need to succeed.<\/p>\n

“Being the best at the basics means making sure our people have the skills \u2013 and the opportunities to build those skills \u2013 to deliver on our plans,\u201d said Josh Olmsted, President and Chief Operating Officer-Americas. \u201cThat\u2019s what this initiative is really all about, and why it\u2019s so important to our ability to execute safely and efficiently, both today and in the future.\u201d<\/p>\n

<\/span>
From Training Completion to Skills Mastery<\/span><\/h2>\n

At the heart of the new approach is a shift from simply completing training modules to demonstrating true mastery of job-critical skills. While classroom and online learning remain important, they\u2019ll be paired with mentoring, field-based learning and hands-on assessments to ensure knowledge is retained and applied.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s not about checking a box,\u201d said Chad Fretz, General Manager-Technical Training Americas. \u201cIt\u2019s about demonstrating you can do the work safely and effectively in the field.\u201d<\/p>\n

This involves making training more targeted and effective by aligning it with the specific skills needed in today\u2019s roles. It also includes updating content to reflect current technologies and job expectations, while leveraging modern learning tools to deliver training that\u2019s timely, relevant and easily accessible.<\/p>\n

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<\/span>
Building Consistency Across Sites<\/span><\/h2>\n

While Freeport already has company-wide training standards, there still is a lot of variation between sites, Bower said. The new approach will introduce greater standardization, ensuring that employees \u2013 regardless of location \u2013 receive reliable, effective training to support their performance.<\/p>\n

This consistency will help better define career paths and growth opportunities, while also enabling employees to move between sites and tasks with greater confidence and competence.<\/p>\n

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Safety Through Competence and Confidence<\/span><\/h2>\n

Improving safety outcomes is a central driver of the new approach. A recent review of serious incidents revealed a common thread: While training had been delivered, there was often no follow-up to confirm understanding or application in the field.<\/p>\n

\u201cMany of our high-risk events stem from gaps in knowledge transfer,\u201d said Anna Laija, Director- Safety and Health Learning and Development. \u201cWe\u2019re closing those gaps by ensuring training is not only delivered but understood and demonstrated.\u201d<\/p>\n

Laija emphasized that developing employees\u2019 skills is essential to improving safety performance.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe better someone understands the job, the more likely they are to do it safely,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n

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Why Now?<\/span><\/h2>\n

The timing of this initiative is no coincidence. Training efforts slowed during the pandemic, and many experienced employees have since retired, Bower said. That\u2019s left a gap in on-the-job knowledge sharing.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe now have a less experienced workforce, which means newer employees have fewer chances to learn from seasoned mentors,\u201d Bower said. \u201cWe need a more structured, effective way to pass on that knowledge and critical skills.\u201d[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” background_color=”#3d485e” width=”100%” max_width=”100%” custom_margin=”0px||0px||false|false” custom_padding=”0px|50px|0px|50px|false|false” global_module=”1861″ saved_tabs=”all” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.24.2″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.24.2″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_post_nav in_same_term=”on” prev_text=”Prev Page” next_text=”Next Page” _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” title_font=”Fira Sans Condensed|700||on|||||” title_text_color=”#FFFFFF” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_post_nav][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"featured_media":0,"template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_et_pb_use_builder":"on","_et_pb_old_content":"","_et_gb_content_width":""},"categories":[19],"class_list":["post-3046","issue-article","type-issue-article","status-publish","hentry","category-summer-2025"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/fmminermag.com\/htdocs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/issue-article\/3046","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/fmminermag.com\/htdocs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/issue-article"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/fmminermag.com\/htdocs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/issue-article"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/fmminermag.com\/htdocs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3046"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/fmminermag.com\/htdocs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=3046"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}