Is Your Organization. . . Attempting to recruit skilled employees with electrical, electronic, and mechanical systems knowledge? . . . Finding it increasingly difficult to maintain a competitive advantage due to the lack of existing employees who are trained to operate, troubleshoot, and maintain your high-tech equipment? . . . Concerned because your highly skilled aging workforce will be retiring soon, and there are not nearly enough qualified replacement workers available?

Companies are becoming much more dependent upon the use of high-tech equipment that involves multiple, integrated systems. However, the demand for this high-performance workforce far exceeds the dwindling supply of qualified technical workers.

This crisis is validated by a Survey Report (released 11/22/05 by the National Association of Manufacturers, the Manufacturing Institute and Deloitte Consulting LLP), which indicates there is a serious shortage of qualified technical employees which is taking an increasingly negative toll on America’s ability to compete in the global economy. This critical “skills gap” is expected to continue into the foreseeable future. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor and Statistics, 23 million Baby Boomer workers will be leaving the workforce as 10 million non-baby boomers will be entering. Among those leaving are the highly skilled technical workers.

To reverse this trend, intensive training needs to be implemented immediately to position employees with technical aptitude, to fill this ever-widening gap.

The Center of Excellence for Integrated Systems Technology (IST) is a timely solution to these critical issues. This program provides cross-training in electrical, electronic, and mechanical systems. It offers:* Hands-On-Training * Industry Designed Curricula *Self-Paced Learning * Troubleshooting, Problem-Solving and Critical Thinking * Web-Enabled Curricula *Authentic Assessment*.

This facility is the only one of its kind in the Southeast. Its mission is to train current or prospective employees utilizing an integrated approach. Dr. Terence Fagan, IST Lab Instructor, stated it best: “In today’s fast changing atmosphere, industrial leaders need to have a skilled workforce. . . The IST program is there to fill that exact need by training maintenance technicians to understand and troubleshoot areas such as electrical, PLC’s, hydraulics, mechanical etc., as well as providing hands-on training.”

Coca-Cola Bottling Co. Consolidated (CCBCC), located in Charlotte, NC, recently sent six members of their maintenance team to the IST Lab. “There are several things that I like about the program”, says Jim McNee, CCBCC Maintenance Manager, “but perhaps the most important outcome is that the knowledge gained by the guys has had an immediate impact on the job”. He further stated that “each individual has become more of a ‘multicraft’ technician, more well-rounded. Their ability to troubleshoot has significantly improved.” Jim agrees that it’s becoming much more difficult to find skilled labor. Therefore, he is looking forward to continuing the partnership with CPCC to help bridge the skills gap-- both now and in the future.

Although the workforce situation today looks bleak, having a state-of-the-art training facility in the heart of the Charlotte/Mecklenburg region, gives us all reason to be hopeful that recruiting and maintaining a high-performance workforce will be an attainable goal.

The IST Facility is the result of a grant funded by the U.S. Department of Labor, NC Commerce Commission, and Duke Power. As stated by Bill Heitman, Director of Training Services at CPCC, this Center is “proof that when federal, state and local agencies collaborate, positive outcomes occur”. Bill further stated, “This partnership . . . has served to focus the resources of each of these agencies on providing training solutions necessary to improve the climate for manufacturing in North Carolina”.

Contact your CPCC Corporate Training Advisor today, to develop a customized technical training solution for your organization, utilizing the resources of the IST Facility: 704.330.4660. Also, ask about other training opportunities available through the Business & Industry Division at Central Piedmont Community College.