This week provided for a deeper dive into curriculum and related equipment research. It began with a visit joined by my colleague Amy Pultz, Assistant Principal at VCTC, to Blue Ridge Community College's Advanced Manufacturing Facility to meet with Matt Goss, Director of Technology Intensive Manufacturing Service Center, Dr.Bob Young, VP of Instruction and Student Services, and Marlena Jarboe, Dean of Academic Affairs. The visit provided for tremendous insights into curriculum design including dual enrollment structure, as well as an opportunity to tour the labs to gain understanding of how they are equipped. This was the first opportunity that provided for insight into equipment used to support a manufacturing technology program. Thank you to the BRCC team for a wonderful time and willingness to commit to partnering in support our program development efforts including help with grant-writing, curriculum materials, and setting up a dual-enrollment component. Our next curriculum-equipment insights came from our meeting with Nibco manufacturing, a leading provider of copper valves, fittings and flow control products for commercial, industrial and institutional construction as well as residential and irrigation markets. We met with Plant Manager Mark Frazier who graciously took us on a 1.5hr tour of the factory and the amazing process that takes raw copper sheeting and converts it to tubing which is then cut and used to manufacture a variety of copper fittings. When asked about Nibco's greatest training needs for incoming production technicians Mark said "Definitely robotics, controls, safety, and maintenance awareness." He also stated that the most important thing they look for in new talent is a strong commitment and work ethic. This was valuable feedback to inform our curriculum design as well as equipment planning. The end of the week was rounded out with two meetings. The first was with Wilson Memorial High School Career Coach Dave Melvin and the second with Phillip Springer, Instructor of Advanced Manufacturing at Northside HS in Fort Wayne Indiana.
Our meeting with Dave provided for the opportunity to introduce him to our plans for the Manufacturing Technology Program and to receive his support to promote our program to potential students that demonstrate an interest, and aptitude for, a technical program such a Manufacturing Technology. We appreciate and look forward to partnering with David and his Career Coach colleagues to help launch and sustain the program. Our meeting with Phillip was set up to understand the best practices he's implemented as part of his Advanced Manufacturing program where he is using Indiana state's impressive HireTech curriculum that is based on the Certified Production Technician, and Certified Logistics Technician, curricula developed by the Manufacturing Skills Standard Council. The most impressive takeaways from this meeting included the fact that by the end of Phillips 3-yr program his students walk away with 6 industry-recognized certifications, up to 15 dual credits through Ivy Tech, as well as an opportunity to participate in a 6wk summer internship with local manufacturers such as Toyota. Well done Mr.Springer and team! All in all the opportunity to tour and speak to successful benchmark programs such as BRCC and Northside HS, as well as get out to representative area industries like Nibco, helped greatly to inform our program curriculum and equipment research.
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why "Health of the line"The on-time completion, and finished quality, of a manufactured product is dependent upon how well things go at each and every step of the process. This is known as "health of the line". AuthorAndrei Dacko heads the development of the Manufacturing Technology program at VCTC. He brings over 20yrs combined experience across education, manufacturing, sales, and business development. Archives
January 2018
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