Daily News

GCC Wins Award for Excellence in Manufacturing Training

PITTSFIELD — Tooling U-SME, a leader in manufacturing training and development, presented its Platinum Education Center designation to six community and technical colleges nationwide, including Greenfield Community College.

The Tooling U-SME Platinum Education Center (TUPEC) awards are presented to educational facilities that serve as models in the manufacturing industry when it comes to developing an outstanding learning culture. Schools are selected based on adoption of Tooling U-SME’s online training program and strong utilization rates of online training in a blended learning format. These six schools join 21 other past TUPEC awardees.

GCC partnered with Tooling U-SME for a new training program for entry-level CNC operators, targeting unemployed and underemployed workers. In addition, to meet the demand for skilled workers in its community, GCC has worked with area manufacturers to pilot classes for incumbent workers. According to the Institute for Supply Management, the U.S. manufacturing industry is growing at its fastest pace within the past three years. However, according to the Boston Consulting Group, without aggressive action, the next decade is expected to bring a potential shortfall of 875,000 machinists, welders, industrial-machinery mechanics, and industrial engineers. As demand for skilled workers continues to increase, community colleges and technical schools are striving to provide training that meets the needs of manufacturers.

“The schools that we honor with the TUPEC designation demonstrate an exceptional commitment and dedication to preparing students for a successful career in the manufacturing industry,” said Toni Neary, education specialist for Tooling U-SME’s government and education group. “Instructors at these schools are finding innovative ways to effectively use both online and hands-on training to help students develop critical skills and become strong candidates for employment at local manufacturing facilities.”

The other schools that received the 2014 TUPEC designation include Atlantic Technical College in Florida, Fayetteville Technical Community College in North Carolina, Kellogg Community College in Michigan, Southern Oklahoma Technology Center, and the Arizona Advanced Manufacturing Institute of Mesa Community College in Arizona. For more information about Tooling U-SME, e-mail [email protected] or visit tooling.com.