Advanced Manufacturing Training a Big Success

PUEBLO – Pueblo Community College continues to prepare today’s workforce. Through a U.S. Department of Labor grant, PCC in partnership with the Pueblo Workforce Center focuses on meeting the acute regional needs for skilled employees in the advanced manufacturing industry. A three-tiered program, this intensive training addresses the key areas of work readiness, production skill certification and specialized skills development.

Through the Manufacturing Skills Standards Council (MSSC), participants receive nationally-recognized certifications in four critical manufacturing areas: Safety, Process & Production, Quality & Continuous Improvement and Maintenance Awareness. Individuals who achieve certifications in all four areas earn the prestigious MSSC Certified Production Technician.

MSSC is an industry-led training, assessment and certification system focused on the core skills and knowledge needed by the nation’s production workers. The nationwide MSSC system, based upon federally-endorsed national standards, offers both entry-level and incumbent workers the opportunity to demonstrate that they have mastered the skills increasingly needed in the high-growth, technology-intensive jobs of the 21st century. (www.msscusa.org)

In July, the first training graduates completed the full program with impressive results – 100% receiving ACT Work Keys Certifications, 95% obtaining OSHA Certifications, 91% achieving MSSC Certifications and 62% earning the MSSC CPT. In addition, participants completed 140 hours of hands-on specialized skills training in the one of the following tracks: electrical maintenance, welding and material management.

“The MSSC certification is the new industry-standard throughout the nation for manufacturers. Pueblo Community College is on the forefront of addressing the critical workforce needs facing our local manufacturers,” reports John Vukich, Dean of Economic and Workforce Development division at Pueblo Community College.

ACC Offers First Solar Energy Photovoltaic Installer Class

Arapahoe Community College's Corporate Learning Division (CLD) had its first Solar Energy Photovoltaic (PV) Installer class sit for the NABCEP Certificate of Knowledge Exam on March 17, 2009. Eighteen students took the exam and fifteen students passed! This first PV class started on November 3, 2008 and went through five months of classes, including Electrical Basics, Photovoltaic I and II, and OSHA training. CLD is extremely proud of our students and instructors.

Local Colorado Springs company selects Pike's Peak Community College to develop customized training.

The Business: virtual website design.

Training participants: graduates of thePike's Peak Community CollegeIT program area that had a background in the basic elements of website design and/or an interest in developing that skill.

The training outcome: Junior Programmers will develop, create, and modify general computer applications software using (client's) coding practices and methods. Training participants will be able to develop code given written specifications as supplied from larger customized client software specifications.

Trainee opportunities: 1) develop an understanding of coding practices and project responsibilities; 2) identify the technology proficiencies required (Java, JavaScript, HTML, JSP, AJAX, and J2EE Standards); 3) understand the environments, tools and operating systems used (Eclipse, Tomcat, Linux, Website deployments); 4) describe the database environment basics (SQL, Relational Database Design and Implementation); and, 5) understand the role of code reviews.

Training timeline: 4+ hours per day, five days per week, for 6 weeks

Results: 16 out of 18 successfully completed the training program. After a weekend of rest, they began employment with the company as Junior Programmers.

Community College of Denver Assists RTD in Filling Job Vacancies with Qualified Light Rail Technicians

"Performance Solutions/ CCD did such a great job with the training classes that we are now at headcount for Electro-mechanics. I really appreciate your efforts on getting us up to speed." – Phil, RTD Manager of LRV Maintenance

The Denver Regional Transportation District (RTD) has experienced difficulty with filling job vacancies in their Light Rail division. The skill set required is unique and not enough qualified technicians could be found locally. In partnership with RTD, CCD/ Performance Solutions created a customized training program to address the skill gap. The program has successfully graduated enough candidates for RTD to meet their staffing levels. Due to a partnership with the Denver Workforce office, Federal training funds fully covered the costs of training. Thus the solution to RTD's problem cost them nothing!