Routsis Plastics Training - GSPC Global Standards for Plastics Certification

Global Standards for Plastics Certification

A. Routsis Associates has teamed up with Polymer Training Limited, UK (PTL) and Mid-America Plastics Partners (MAPP) to provide the Global Standards for Plastics Certification (GSPC) to the United States. This comprehensive system is being used in dozens of countries across the world, and is quickly being accepted and implemented here in the United States.

Originally developed by the UK Government in the 1970’s as an apprenticeship qualification, GSPC has evolved through the years to be the most rigorous and comprehensive certification system available to the plastics industry. The certification is based on an operator or technician clearly demonstrating their ability – not just passing a multiple choice test.

A Standard Tailored to Your Facility

Although the technical aspects of the standard are fixed, a large percentage of the standard is based on an understanding of your company’s specific procedures and policies regarding production, work relations, quality, and safety. When employees become certified, it assures the employer that their workforce has a strong foundation of knowledge, but more importantly the applicable skills which relate directly to the production environment.

Get Your Entire Production Workforce Certified

GSPC certification is a progressive system which starts at Level 1 and progresses up to Level 3. The typical candidates for the appropriate levels are as follows:

Level 1	Level 2	Level 3
• Machine Operators • Material Handlers • Quality Auditors • All Production Personnel	• Molding Technicians • Die Setters • Toolmakers • Supervisors	• Senior Process Technicians • Senior Toolmakers • Process Engineers

How Does the GSPC Process Actually Work?

The GSPC process employs a system of checks and balances to ensure that your certified employees meet the international guidelines by which the standard is based. There are three primary people involved in the certification process:

1.) Candidate

Your employees become candidates and are provided with their own workbook to prepare them for certification. Through the aid of training, facilitation, and existing plant-specific documentation, the employee obtains the knowledge and competency to fulfill the workbook and ultimately meet the standard.

2.) In-Plant Assessor

As the employee progresses through the workbook, the in-plant assessor periodically tests and approves the employee’s progress until he/she believes the candidate is ready to be certified.

3.) Verifier

The verifier ensures the integrity of the standard by visiting the plant and randomly testing the candidates using the production floor as the backdrop. Once the candidates show complete compliance, they are approved and receive a certificate for their appropriate level that’s internationally endorsed.

What are people saying about GSPC?

Here’s what some Top Executives are saying about adopting Global Certification for their Operators, Technicians, Die-setters, Mold Makers, and Supervisors.

“My company needed a training system. The GSPC Certification and Standards system is more than we have ever dreamed. We now have documented training standards and the latest technology to train our employees on the technical aspects of their jobs. Above all, we now have a system, governed by an independent body, to verify my company’s training protocol and test our employees’ progression in improving their knowledge and skills!”

Rick Green, President, Bourbon Plastics

“This is the missing piece for Metro’s training puzzle. We have been looking for a way to tie certification to all of the training we do, and GSPC is the answer. This system is well balanced, very comprehensive, and requires employees to be well rounded; now my employees have a method of building on their technical strengths by learning more about the business side of the operation!”

Lindsey Hahn
President, Metro Plastics Technologies

“My company has always invested heavily in employee training and our pay for knowledge program has been critical in giving employees incentive to improve their knowledge and skills. The GSPC system has added another dimension to our training program and has improved the consistency of our training. This is a true training system and will help put my employees at a level to propel my company forward!”

Stu Kaplan, President, Makuta Technics

“I was looking for a true training system; one that will help take my production employees to the next level. The GSPC system is not only what my company needed but it is truly what our industry needs. My employees are very pumped up about this system as it gives them a means by which to improve their knowledge, achieve a unique certification, and become more valuable to the company.”

Rick Walters, VP & GM, Dekalb Molded Plastics