Career & Tech, SCCC team up to train skilled manufacturing workers

A course offered by the Capital Region BOCES Adult Education program at the Career & Technical School and endorsed by Schenectady County Community College (SCCC) will help meet the region’s growing demand for a skilled, high-tech workforce by training local adults to become Manufacturing Skill Standards Council (MSSC) Certified Production Technicians.

Enrollment is currently underway in the class, which begins on Feb. 27, and includes a group of adult learners funded through a grant secured by SCCC and supported by local employers with positions to fill in the area of advanced manufacturing.

"At Schenectady County Community College (SCCC), we consistently hear from manufacturing employers looking for ways to increase the talent pool of skilled technicians. In response to those needs, we are looking for ways to partner with existing training providers and develop new programming. This joint partnership with Capital Region BOCES is an excellent example of two dedicated groups working together to address a critical regional need," said Quintin B. Bullock, president of SCCC.

Added Matthew Grattan, executive director of workforce development at SCCC: "As we looked for curriculum that would provide these skills for a grant proposal we were submitting, we reached out to the Capital Region BOCES to utilize the Manufacturing Skills Standard Council (MSSC) Certified Production Technician (CPT) course. We verified with our three business partners in the grant that this training was what they needed to establish these foundational skills in safety, quality, process and maintenance. The fact that this certification is endorsed by the National Association of Manufacturers (NAM) lends credibility to the training and provides an opportunity for students to gain a competitive edge in pursuing and advancing their career in the manufacturing industry."

Capital Region BOCES District Superintendent Dr. Charles S. Dedrick said, “Our BOCES’ goal is to provide high-quality educational and support services that not only meet the current needs of the students and school districts we serve, but which also are an investment in our region's economy and its future. Our regional effort is also emblematic of our mission to support lifelong learning while addressing our region’s demand for a technologically skilled, 21st century workforce.”

The Manufacturing Skill Standards Council’s MSSC Certified Production Technician certification is a nationally portable and industry-recognized credential that prepares individuals for jobs in manufacturing production. The course includes 140 hours of integrated classroom instruction divided into four modules, which teach core technical skills, applied academics and employability skills:

• Safety
• Quality Practices and Measurement
• Manufacturing Processes and Production
• Maintenance Awareness

The MSSC Certified Production Technician course will be offered beginning on February 6 at the Capital Region BOCES Career & Technical School on Career Path, 1015 Watervliet-Shaker Road, in Colonie. Class will meet Monday through Thursday from 5:30-8:30 p.m. through May 24 (except for the weeks of February 20 and April 9).

Tuition is $2000. Unemployed adult learners may be eligible for financial assistance via their local New York State Department of Labor One Stop Center. A list of One Stop Centers can be found at: http://www.labor.ny.gov/workforcenypartners/osview.asp.

To register, contact Sharon Hornbach at Capital Region BOCES Adult Education, via email at shornbac@gw.neric.org or phone, (518) 862-4707.

The nationwide MSSC System, based upon industry-defined and federally-endorsed national standards, offers both entry-level and experienced workers the opportunity to demonstrate that they have acquired the skills increasingly needed in the technology-intensive jobs of the 21st century.

A wide variety of U.S. manufacturers endorse the MSSC program and employ Certified Production Technicians, including Cummins, Ford, Harley-Davidson, Kawasaki, Lockheed Martin, Master Lock and Tropicana.

[Revised 2/3/2012]