The Australian Institute of Packaging (AIP) has bolstered packaging training and education though a cooperation agreement with the Australian Management Academy (AMA) – a Registered Training Organisation, accredited by the Department of Education & Training.
As the demand for packaging technologists in Australia remains high, there is an obvious need to elevate the skills base of the packaging industry to ensure it remains globally competitive in these difficult economic conditions.
In addition the increased work load and knowledge requirements surrounding the ‘green era’ in packaging is driving demand for education and training.
The AIP is the only source of internationally recognised formal education training in packaging in Australia with its long-standing Diploma in Packaging Technology and Certificate in Packaging courses.
The AIP’s flagship course is the Diploma in Packaging Technology, a Degree level course developed to provide in-depth understanding of the packaging industry aimed at technologists and managers whose jobs have a packaging focus.
The Diploma in Packaging Technology is an internationally recognised qualification for those wishing to pursue a career in the packaging industry or for those who are already in the industry and who wish to extend their knowledge and expertise. It has been offered by the AIP continuously since 1980 and has an exemplary record of successful students.
The Certificate in Packaging has a broad appeal, from people who are embarking on a career in packaging to more established delegates who may be working in fields such as marketing, purchasing or logistics, for whom a more detailed understanding of packaging will help them to develop their role.
According to National President of the AIP, Craig Wellman, MAIP, the AMA is a well resourced and highly respected professional organisation which develops and delivers training across a wide range of industries with certificate and diploma programs in both operational and management streams.
“The AMA is able to bring an infrastructure that will assist the AIP as it drives educational and professional development in the packaging industry,” he said.
“The new cooperation with AMA represents the dawn of a new era in the AIP’s contribution towards education and professional development within the packaging industry.
“AMA’s professionalism is well matched to ours as they already provide a similar back office support role for other industry associations. The AIP are lucky to be able to leverage their experience of training administration in Australia, especially their knowledge of government.” Wellman said.
“By invoking the assistance of AMA, the AIP has underpinned its ability to accommodate a vast increase in student numbers and underwrite the expansion of both the number, and type of courses, that the AIP will offer into the future,” he said.
Until now, AIP’s training administration had been well looked after by The Appointments Group who made their contribution as a means of putting something back into the packaging industry from which it has originated.
As AIP activities have become more expansive and involved, TAG’s Managing Director, Andrew Preston, was instrumental in recommending that the AIP consider involving an existing RTO into its operational framework.
“As a recruitment organisation that does most of its work in packaging, we constantly hear the cry of industry about finding skilled people, especially those with formal qualifications in packaging, which I have to say are sadly lacking.
“We believe that the relationship with AMA will be an excellent outcome for the AIP but, more importantly I hope, for the standing of education in the packaging industry,” Preston said.
The handover from TAG to AMA has been seamless and students are now being administered by AMA on behalf of the AIP.
“The AIP have been extremely fortunate to enjoy the contribution made by Andrew’s organisation, TAG over the last few years; who like many people in this industry, make a contribution beyond their pay cheque. The AIP wishes TAG all the very best for their continued success in the packaging industry.” Wellman said.
Background on the Australian Management Academy (AMA) The Australian Management Academy was formed in 1997 by Peter Stephenson and Neil Francey who, for more than a decade, provided productivity improvement consulting services in Australia, New Zealand, South East Asia, Europe and the Americas under the banner of PICO Consulting. As a significant component of productivity improvement programs consists of formal training it was a natural progression to form a training organisation.
The Academy specialises in workplace-based training in industrial and business environments and provides a complete training service to clients through a comprehensive range of training programs that build productivity in all business functions, and at all levels of staff.
The Australian Management Academy is registered training organisation which means that the qualifications issued are recognised nationally.
The Academy focuses on training for the manufacturing, processing and mining & quarrying industries from Certificate II through to Diploma level.
Many Academy training courses have strong linkages to Lean Manufacturing and incorporate Statistical Process Control (Six-Sigma).
According to the Academy managing director, Peter Stephenson, ”our goal at the Australian Management Academy is to give people the skills they need to change their lives. Our courses give people the skills that will make them a valuable resource, not just for today and tomorrow, but for the rest of their life.
“For our corporate clients, our training delivers benefits by way of productivity improvement through more predictable and controllable output, better flow of work processes, and embedding a culture of continuous improvement.
“For the worker, our training enhances skills in planning, analysing information, problem-solving, empowerment in decision making, leading change and optimising the benefit of technology to build continuous improvement systems.” Stephenson said.