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Courses taking on 'dead-end' stigma
Germanna Community College will be offering a certificate in industrial maintenance technology
Date published: 7/3/2008
BY JEFF BRANSCOME
Factory maintenance isn't all about sweeping, painting and changing light bulbs.
It can require knowledge of electrical control systems, hydraulics and engineering.
That's why Germanna Community College's Joseph R. Daniel Technology Center in Culpeper County is introducing a maintenance technology certificate this fall.
About 20 factory supervisors learned about the career studies program Monday and checked out its $120,000 lab.
"Over 40,000 people will leave our industry over seven years," said Brett Vassey, president of the Virginia Manufacturers Association. "We have the oldest working population of any sector, including government, in the commonwealth."
By fall 2009, Germanna hopes high school students in Culpeper, Orange and Madison counties can sign up for the program for dual enrollment credit.
These days, the college is targeting maintenance employees with little experience. Allen Huffman, a plant manager for Ridgid Products in Orange, said he's going to ask two of his employees to go through the program.
He said it's important for employees to be certified in their fields.
"It's high-tech equipment," he said. "It's not something you'd want to have a shade-tree mechanic working on."
Germanna's new lab includes technology that combines mechanical and electrical engineering, and information systems. It's called "mechatronics" and is available at three other community colleges in the state, Vassey said.
The maintenance program is made up of eight courses, including principles of industrial safety, practical electricity and machine shop practices. Students will complete much of the coursework online.
"We're trying to be as accommodating to working adults as possible," said John Donnelly, the technology center's dean of instruction.
Vassey said Germanna's program is a step toward erasing the manufacturing industry's reputation for offering only dead-end jobs.
"The image of this industry is still 1952 meat packing," he said.
Jeff Branscome: 540/374-5402
Email: jbranscome@freelancestar.com
Date published: 7/3/2008
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