Greater New Bedford Workforce Investment Board’s Advanced Manufacturing Initiative

On Wednesday, June 24, 2009, Bristol Community College will be hosting a closing ceremony for participants successfully completing the Total Preventative Maintenance (TPM) and Work Readiness programs. These participants have earned one college credit. This event will take place at Bristol Community College’s New Bedford Campus (BCC) from 4:30pm to 6pm in room 161, where President John J. Sbrega, Ph.D., will honor the partner companies and participants with a college credit presentation.

The Greater New Bedford Workforce Investment Board, Inc. (WIB), was awarded a $499, 923 Workforce Competitive Trust Fund grant through Commonwealth Corporation on June 11, 2007, to implement the Greater New Bedford Advanced Manufacturing Initiative (AMI). The WIB partnered with BCC, Aerovox Corp., AFC Cable Systems,

Precix Inc., Lockheed Martin/Sippican, and Nameplates for Industry. Without these partners this program would not have been possible.

As this program comes to a close, Lisa Martin, project manager, reflects on the accomplishments of the past two years. “The AMI program has trained more than 500 area workers to meet the changing needs of the manufacturing industry,” she said. Over the two-year span of the grant, more than 60 trainings were offered with all of the employer partners participating in them. Ms. Martin added, “With the changing times and economy, everything is becoming ‘lean and green’ and it made sense to make available such courses as Intro to Lean Manufacturing, Green Belt, Total Preventative Maintenance (TPM), and Work Readiness to help prepare the participants for the changes to come in the industry.”

These trainings have been successful and well received by the participants as well as the employers. Two of the trainings, TPM and Work Readiness, have earned a one college credit through BCC. Therefore, any of the participants completing one of these courses will receive one college credit. This is a great incentive for anyone who would like to further their education. To date, 136 participants will be receiving this one credit value.