A new $44,900 grant from the Furniture Foundation will facilitate training of front-line furniture supervisors by Mississippi State University personnel.

Four supervisory management training programs will be offered by the university's Franklin Furniture Institute at manufacturing locations throughout the state between August and July 2018. The Furniture Foundation, a research and education fund administered by the American Home Furnishings Alliance, recently announced the grant to MSU for the training programs.

Since 2011, MSU has delivered supervisory management training to more than 500 participants, resulting in measurable improvements in knowledge, skills, leadership and communications.

"This is one of the most requested services available through the MSU Franklin Furniture Institute," said institute director Bill Martin. "The training is specifically designed for middle management and first line supervisors to provide contemporary incremental manufacturing instruction for all facets of workforce and management in manufacturing."

First line supervisors are the backbone of manufacturing and responsible for elements of production and personnel and often are placed in those roles without formal education and training, Martin added.

By combining classroom instruction and on-site problem-solving activities, employees learn valuable skills and partner with their employers to obtain strategic goals. The courses are divided into four topic areas: introduction to modern manufacturing, leadership, management and modern manufacturing. Spanning four training sessions, three-hour modules are delivered on site for up to 15 individuals.

For information about the Supervisory Manufacturing Management Training program, contact Martin at (662) 325-3348 or visit ffi.msstate.edu/training.asp.