The first cohort of students in the Industrial Technology program at National Park College earned National Center for Construction Education and Research Certifications in both Construction Site Safety and Introductory Craft Skills.
Nine of the 10 participants are employees of Berry Plastics. Students will be awarded the Technical Certificate in Industrial Technology during the May graduation ceremony and several of them are already working to pursue an associate degree.
The industrial technology program hosted a celebration ceremony April 11. Guests were shown demonstrations of students' work with mechanical systems, hydraulic fluid power equipment and programmable logic controllers.
Speakers included Robert Bridewell, plant manager for Berry Plastics; David Hughes, dean of business, technical and early college programs; and Bill Freuck, industrial technology instructor.
Using a federal Department of Labor Trade Adjustment Assistance Community College Career Training grant, the college created the Industrial Technology program specifically tailored to help close the skills gaps of local manufacturing employers. NPC collaborated with Berry Plastics to create scheduling and sequencing to accommodate employees' work schedules and provide targeted services to ensure success.
"It has been our pleasure to partner with NPC on the continued education of our employees," Bridewell said. "This endeavor will strengthen our business in the manufacturing sector and communities in which we serve. I am very proud of our employees."
The Industrial Technology program provides the basis for a career in many fields including fluid power mechanic, controls and automation, technician, multi-craft technician, millwright, sensors and instrumentation technician, industrial maintenance mechanic and mechatronics technician. It is meant to prepare students with the skills necessary for a variety of jobs in modern manufacturing facilities and provide entry-level knowledge and skills to set up, operate, maintain and repair machines and control systems.
The 28-credit hour program of study leads to a technical certificate in Industrial Technology and can be completed in as little as six months. All credit hours apply toward the Associate of Applied Science in General Technology. Core technical subjects include blueprint reading, mechanical systems, fluid power, electricity, motor controls and programmable logic controllers.
School on 04/23/2017