One legacy of the United States' emphasis on individualism is a system of vocational education disconnected from employers. Collaboration is an attempt to replace hostility with closer relations between the public and private sectors. The movement for partnerships comes as the "system" of work-related education and training is becoming increasingly complex due to institutional expansion, dissatisfaction with some components of the "system," and the discovery of new needs. Customized training is one particular kind of partnership between employers and public education and training institutions. Advantages to vocational institutions are connection with employers; vocational programs kept current by firms' contributions of equipment; new opportunities for combining general and specific training; and a placement mechanism. Drawbacks to customized training include shifts in employment; potential bias in the composition of trainees; and narrow vocationalism. An analysis of some customized training programs shows that many programs have the potential for exploiting their strengths. Implications are that: (1) customized training should be more systematically evaluated; (2) states and the Federal Government should ensure that economic development efforts do not merely reallocate existing employment; and (3) vocational education should be targeted to businesses that might expand employment and production. (15 references) (YLB)