{"681713":{"#nid":"681713","#data":{"type":"news","title":"Georgia Tech and Georgia Quick Start Partner to Improve Manufacturing Training","body":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EIn a significant move to bolster Georgia\u0027s workforce, Georgia Tech has partnered with \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.georgiaquickstart.org\/\u0022\u003EGeorgia Quick Start\u003C\/a\u003E to advance manufacturing training and skill development. This collaboration, formalized by the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding on April 8, aims to elevate the quality and efficiency of manufacturing workforce training across the state.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cAt Georgia Tech, innovation isn\u2019t just about discovery \u2014 it\u2019s about solving real-world challenges,\u201d said Executive Vice President for Research \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/research.gatech.edu\/people\/timothy-charles-lieuwen\u0022\u003ETim Lieuwen\u003C\/a\u003E. \u201cGeorgia Quick Start ensures that cutting-edge research in advanced manufacturing translates into practical training solutions. Together, we are equipping Georgia\u2019s workforce with the skills needed to drive economic growth and industry advancement.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAs manufacturing technologies and artificial intelligence continue to evolve, U.S. manufacturers increasingly require skilled workers experienced in advanced manufacturing. For decades, Georgia Quick Start, administered by the \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.tcsg.edu\/\u0022\u003ETechnical College System of Georgia\u003C\/a\u003E, has been addressing this need and has been recognized as the country\u2019s \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.georgiaquickstart.org\/press-release\/\u0022\u003Etop workforce training program\u003C\/a\u003E for 15 years.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ENow, researchers at Georgia Tech will collaborate with Georgia Quick Start to enhance these efforts by developing Extended Reality (XR) training programs, providing a scalable and experiential solution to meet the growing demand for training.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cWe have been so successful for so many years because we stay focused on relevance, flexibility, and responsiveness,\u201d said Scott McMurray, deputy commissioner for Georgia Quick Start. \u201cThis partnership is an example of how Quick Start is able to develop and deliver effective training even for companies working on the leading edge of advanced manufacturing technologies.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Ch3\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EExtended Reality, Scaled Training\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/h3\u003E\u003Cp\u003EXR technologies use a combination of virtual and augmented reality to create immersive, interactive experiences. By simulating real-world manufacturing environments and processes, XR has the potential to allow trainees to practice and refine their skills in a controlled, risk-free setting through standardized training experiences. This not only enhances the learning experience but also ensures consistency in training quality across a large workforce.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cVirtual reality scales training by gamifying complex tasks and removing the need for costly or hazardous physical equipment. Augmented reality scales on-the-job training by providing adaptive, context-aware guidance exactly when and where it\u2019s needed, reducing the need for expert supervision,\u201d said manufacturing XR researcher \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.isye.gatech.edu\/users\/mohsen-moghaddam\u0022\u003EMohsen Moghaddam\u003C\/a\u003E, Gary C. Butler Family associate professor in the \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.isye.gatech.edu\/\u0022\u003EH. Milton Stewart School of Industrial and Systems Engineering\u003C\/a\u003E and the \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.me.gatech.edu\/\u0022\u003EGeorge W. Woodruff School of Mechanical Engineering\u003C\/a\u003E. \u201cTogether, they make training more consistent, up-to-date, accessible, and safe, especially for workers who may hesitate to ask for assistance from peers or supervisors out of fear of judgment.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe collaboration will leverage Moghaddam\u2019s research and the AR\/VR training space within the expanded \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/ampf.research.gatech.edu\/\u0022\u003EAdvanced Manufacturing Pilot Facility\u003C\/a\u003E, providing a state-of-the-art environment for developing and deploying XR training technologies. Researchers from the \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/research.gatech.edu\/manufacturing\u0022\u003EGeorgia Tech Manufacturing Institute\u003C\/a\u003E (GTMI) and \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/georgiaaim.org\/\u0022\u003EGeorgia AIM\u003C\/a\u003E(Artificial Intelligence in Manufacturing) will also play pivotal roles in the development of these training programs.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cPartnerships like these highlight the power of the integrated University of Georgia and Technical College System of Georgia\u2019s workforce development ecosystem,\u201d said \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/people.research.gatech.edu\/node\/11182\u0022\u003EThomas Kurfess\u003C\/a\u003E, Regents\u2019 Professor and GTMI executive director. \u201cOur country not only needs the creation of new jobs but also the skilled workforce to fill them. At Georgia Tech and GTMI, we are serving as an enabler of innovation in that workforce development.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E","summary":"","format":"limited_html"}],"field_subtitle":"","field_summary":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EIn a bid to support job creation and retention, the new partnership will work to develop scalable extended reality training programs for Georgia\u0027s manufacturing sector.\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"In a bid to support job creation and retention, the new partnership will work to develop scalable extended reality training programs for Georgia\u0027s manufacturing sector."}],"uid":"35575","created_gmt":"2025-04-10 13:59:12","changed_gmt":"2025-04-14 14:59:02","author":"adavidson38","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","location":"Atlanta, GA","dateline":{"date":"2025-04-10T00:00:00-04:00","iso_date":"2025-04-10T00:00:00-04:00","tz":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"hg_media":{"676804":{"id":"676804","type":"image","title":"GTVR_MOU_040825_0016.jpg","body":"\u003Cp\u003EGeorgia Quick Start Deputy Commissioner Scott McMurray (center left) and Georgia Tech Executive Vice President for Research Tim Lieuwen (center right) gathered with members of the Georgia Tech Manufacturing Institute, Georgia AIM, and more to officially commemorate the partnership on April 8.\u003C\/p\u003E","created":"1744293556","gmt_created":"2025-04-10 13:59:16","changed":"1744293556","gmt_changed":"2025-04-10 13:59:16","alt":"Georgia Quick Start Deputy Commissioner Scott McMurray (center left) and Georgia Tech Executive Vice President for Research Tim Lieuwen (center right) gathered with members of the Georgia Tech Manufacturing Institute, Georgia AIM, and more to officially commemorate the partnership on April 8.","file":{"fid":"260646","name":"GTVR_MOU_040825_0016.jpg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2025\/04\/10\/GTVR_MOU_040825_0016.jpg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2025\/04\/10\/GTVR_MOU_040825_0016.jpg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":1831755,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2025\/04\/10\/GTVR_MOU_040825_0016.jpg?itok=emCHGf_Q"}},"676805":{"id":"676805","type":"image","title":"MoU-Signing-GTMI.jpeg","body":"\u003Cp\u003EMcMurray and Lieuwen signed a Memorandum of Understanding to mark the collaboration.\u003C\/p\u003E","created":"1744293706","gmt_created":"2025-04-10 14:01:46","changed":"1744294494","gmt_changed":"2025-04-10 14:14:54","alt":"McMurray and Lieuwen signed a Memorandum of Understanding to mark the collaboration.","file":{"fid":"260648","name":"MoU-Signing-GTMI.jpeg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2025\/04\/10\/MoU-Signing-GTMI.jpeg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2025\/04\/10\/MoU-Signing-GTMI.jpeg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":4101230,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2025\/04\/10\/MoU-Signing-GTMI.jpeg?itok=i5B-l2cY"}},"676806":{"id":"676806","type":"image","title":"manufacturing-innovation.JPG","body":"\u003Cp\u003EGeorgia Tech researchers will work with Georgia Quick Start to develop extended reality training programs for manufacturing workers to make training more consistent and efficient.\u003C\/p\u003E","created":"1744293884","gmt_created":"2025-04-10 14:04:44","changed":"1744293884","gmt_changed":"2025-04-10 14:04:44","alt":"Georgia Tech researchers will work with Georgia Quick Start to develop extended reality training programs for manufacturing workers to make training more consistent and efficient.","file":{"fid":"260650","name":"manufacturing-innovation.JPG","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2025\/04\/10\/manufacturing-innovation.JPG","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2025\/04\/10\/manufacturing-innovation.JPG","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":437804,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2025\/04\/10\/manufacturing-innovation.JPG?itok=Z9ZDMDEK"}}},"media_ids":["676804","676805","676806"],"related_links":[{"url":"https:\/\/research.gatech.edu\/manufacturing-workforce-future","title":"Manufacturing the Workforce of the Future"},{"url":"https:\/\/research.gatech.edu\/ai-and-automation-converge-expansion-georgia-techs-advanced-manufacturing-pilot-facility","title":"AI and Automation Converge in Expansion of Georgia Tech\u2019s Advanced Manufacturing Pilot Facility"},{"url":"https:\/\/research.gatech.edu\/georgia-tech-partners-korean-institutes-drive-manufacturing-innovation","title":"Georgia Tech Partners with Korean Institutes to Drive Manufacturing Innovation"}],"groups":[{"id":"155831","name":"Georgia Tech Manufacturing Institute (GTMI)"},{"id":"1188","name":"Research Horizons"}],"categories":[{"id":"131","name":"Economic Development and Policy"},{"id":"132","name":"Institute Leadership"},{"id":"135","name":"Research"}],"keywords":[{"id":"186857","name":"go-gtmi"},{"id":"187915","name":"go-researchnews"}],"core_research_areas":[{"id":"193654","name":"Enterprise Innovation Institute"},{"id":"39461","name":"Manufacturing, Trade, and Logistics"}],"news_room_topics":[],"event_categories":[],"invited_audience":[],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EWriter:\u003C\/strong\u003E \u003Ca href=\u0022mailto:audra.davidson@research.gatech.edu\u0022\u003EAudra Davidson\u003C\/a\u003E\u003Cbr\u003EResearch Communications Program Manager\u003Cbr\u003EGeorgia Tech Manufacturing Institute\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"email":["audra.davidson@research.gatech.edu"],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}}}