VGCC Manufacturing training course starts March 3

Vance-Granville Community College is taking another step towards helping displaced workers get back on the job with Certified Production Technician (CPT) training.

 

As part of the North Carolina Back-to-Work program, CPT classes will run March 3 through May 7. Classes will be held Monday-Thursday from 9 a.m. until 4 p.m. at the college’s Main Campus in Vance County.

 

The course is based on the Manufacturing Skill Standards Council (MSSC) curriculum, an industry training system focused on the core technical skills and knowledge needed by front-line workers in manufacturing and supply chain logistics.

 

This is the second CPT class offered since VGCC was awarded $120,000 by the State Board of Community Colleges to implement the NC Back-to-Work program. The NC Back-to-Work program was designed to help long-term unemployed North Carolinians obtain the training they need to successfully start new careers.

 

One of the students in VGCC’s first class, Sharon Norwood of Oxford, said that her CPT training has been “eye-opening and exciting.” She worked in manufacturing in the past, and is now seeking to re-enter the industry.

 

“I am amazed at the changes that have occurred, and this has given me the opportunity to learn the new aspects of manufacturing,” Norwood said. “CPT is allowing me to improve myself professionally.”

 

She also believes the training benefits the local economy. “Having frontline workers with knowledge of safety, quality, production and maintenance is an important advantage,” Norwood added. “It could give us new opportunities for industry expansion, relocations and/or start-ups.”

 

Students will train for industry-recognized national certification in several areas, including Safety Awareness, Manufacturing Processes, Quality Practices and Maintenance Awareness. At the completion of the course, students will be prepared to obtain employment in advanced manufacturing facilities throughout the region. They will earn a Certified Production Technician (CPT) credential, while also taking the WorkKeys assessments leading to a Career Readiness Certificate (CRC).

 

Also included in the program are courses in employability skills such as resume writing, job search, and interviewing provided by the VGCC Human Resources Development (HRD) program. Participants will receive assistance in searching for jobs in the manufacturing sector. Area employers that partner with VGCC may provide internships to participating students, when appropriate.

 

The costs of tuition, books, fees and certification tests are waived for qualified participants, including those who are unemployed and underemployed. In addition to unemployed and underemployed residents of Vance, Granville, Franklin, and Warren counties, the program targets military veterans and members of the N.C. National Guard.

 

Serving as instructor for the course is Pamela Huff, who has 14 years of experience working in the manufacturing sector, as well as a master’s degree in education.

 

For more information and to register for the upcoming class, contact Kyle Burwell at hrd-wk@vgcc.edu  or (252) 738-3276 .

 

Above: Certified Production Technician (CPT) training instructor Pamela Huff (standing) teaches students (from left) Michael Evans of Warrenton, Edwin Garrigo of Henderson, and Sharon Norwood and Obie Oakley, both of Oxford, in a classroom at VGCC’s Main Campus. (VGCC photo)