Parker Plastics Builds Technical Skills and Career Confidence in Hagerstown
With support from Maryland MEP, Parker Plastics strengthened its workforce's technical expertise through specialized PET stretch blow molding training, helping employees build confidence, improve troubleshooting skills, and prepare for future growth.
Parker Plastics
In manufacturing, reliable production depends on more than advanced equipment. It requires skilled employees who understand how their machines operate, recognize potential issues, and make informed decisions to maintain quality and efficiency.
For Parker Plastics, a privately held custom blow molding company manufacturing plastic containers in Hagerstown, Maryland, investing in employee development is an important part of maintaining that reliability. With 119 team members at its Hagerstown facility, the company recognized an opportunity to strengthen technical knowledge while supporting employees early in their manufacturing careers.
By providing specialized training, Parker Plastics aimed to give employees a deeper understanding of the production process, improve their ability to troubleshoot equipment, and build a foundation for long-term professional growth.
Building Technical Skills Through Specialized Training
To support those goals, Parker Plastics partnered with Maryland MEP and CRU Air + Gas to deliver in-person PET Stretch Blow Molding Process Training for five employees.
The training focused on equipment operation, maintenance, troubleshooting, and process optimization, helping participants better understand how machine settings and equipment behavior influence container quality, material utilization, and overall production efficiency.
Through this specialized instruction, employees gained practical knowledge to identify production issues, make more informed operating and maintenance decisions, and contribute to continuous improvement efforts.
For newer machine operators, the training also provided an opportunity to connect their daily responsibilities to the larger manufacturing process, building both technical confidence and a foundation for future advancement.
Investing in People and Long-Term Growth
Beyond strengthening technical capabilities, the training reinforced Parker Plastics’ commitment to developing its existing workforce.
By providing employees with opportunities to expand their skills and understanding of production processes, the company is helping create pathways for professional development while building the internal expertise needed to support its operations.
The Results
Working with Maryland MEP, Parker Plastics strengthened its internal technical capabilities while investing in the continued development of its workforce.
The engagement resulted in:
- $3,000 in training cost savings through Maryland MEP’s workforce training programs.
- Retention of five Maryland jobs through continued investment in employee training and development.
- Expanded technical knowledge in equipment operation, maintenance, troubleshooting, and process optimization, helping employees contribute to reliable production and continuous improvement.
These outcomes demonstrate how targeted workforce training can support immediate operational needs while creating opportunities for employees to grow within the organization.
Building a Stronger Workforce Starts with Opportunity
Parker Plastics’ experience highlights the value of investing in employees at every stage of their manufacturing careers. By connecting specialized technical training with opportunities for professional growth, the company is building a more knowledgeable, confident workforce prepared to support its future.
Whether your organization is looking to strengthen technical capabilities, develop emerging talent, or expand opportunities for existing employees, Maryland MEP can connect you with specialized training and workforce development resources to help your team succeed.
"At Parker Plastics, investing in our workforce means more than preparing people for today’s jobs; it means giving them the skills, support, and opportunities to grow with the future of manufacturing. When our employees succeed, our customers, our company, and our community succeed with them."
