Staneski Looks to Promote CT Manufacturing Education & Jobs

From the Connecticut General Assembly:

Bridgeport, CT- To learn more about Housatonic Community College’s (HCC) manufacturing programs, State Rep. Pam Staneski (Milford & Orange) toured the Advanced Manufacturing Technology Center at HCC last week.

Rep. Staneski was interested in touring the Advanced Manufacturing Technology because of her history in manufacturing and her desire to promote manufacturing programs.

Staneski said, “I was highly impressed with the Advanced Manufacturing Center. The program prepares the students for a career in manufacturing and provides classroom instruction, computer, and hands-on training in a lab environment. Manufacturing 101 provides an intense introduction into manufacturing that gives participants a necessary skill set to seek entry into the manufacturing industry.”

HCC offers a 9 month program that includes 34 college credits and two advanced manufacturing certificates. There are currently about 200 people in the program, and its mean age is 28. They have a partnership with Bassick High School in Bridgeport where juniors and seniors spend two hours a day there, and finish with 18 college credits and a level one degree (or, the entire first semester of the 9 month program).

There is a ton of new technology being installed before the start of the 9 month program, including 3D printers, live feed software/televisions where students can watch complex procedures without crowding around a small machine, and an entire inspection laboratory where students can be trained in inspection and quality assurance.

Staneski took the tour with Joe Duhaime, the Assistant Director of Connecticut Advanced Manufacturing Initiative (CAMI), and Milford Board of Education member Walter Hagedorn, who has a background in manufacturing. Both Staneski and Hagedorn agree that more education on the opportunities that a career in manufacturing can provide needs to happen, especially education on how manufacturing has moved to a very high-tech, clean industry.

In 2011, the legislature passed a bi-partisan jobs bill which included funding to provide selected colleges with equipment, renovations, and expansion of existing college facilities; press coverage; and legislative support. The new Advanced Manufacturing Centers provide education and training in high need occupations, (e.g. CNC manufacturing, programming and inspection) based on current and projected labor de s within the State of Connecticut.

The three new Advanced Manufacturing Centers were chosen to be placed at: Housatonic

Community College (HCC) in Bridgeport (enrollment 6,077); Naugatuck Valley Community College (NVCC) in Waterbury (enrollment 7,419); and Quinebaug Valley Community College (QVCC) in Danielson (enrollment 2,086).

The collaborative efforts across the system of four community colleges and their Advanced Manufacturing Center Programs have allowed participants in the program to receive a consistent, core foundational manufacturing education which provides approximately 75 to 85 percent of the basic skills needed for positions in entry-level manufacturing. Students receiving the same certificate with the same standards from each of the four Advanced Manufacturing Center colleges.