{"682574":{"#nid":"682574","#data":{"type":"news","title":"Georgia Tech Partnerships Bridge the Skills Gap for Georgia Manufacturers","body":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EThomasville, Georgia, is a hub of training and talent for local manufacturers. But \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/southernregional.edu\/srtc-leadership\u0022\u003EMason Miller\u003C\/a\u003E could tell there was something missing.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cWe didn\u0027t have any training for advanced manufacturing in our area,\u201d said Miller, vice president of Academic Affairs at Southern Regional Technical College (SRTC), which offers education and training programs in technical and manufacturing fields. \u201cCompanies had to go out and recruit people from Michigan to run their machines. That\u0027s when we said, \u2018We don\u2019t want that to happen \u2014 we need to be doing that right here.\u2019\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThat\u2019s where the \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/research.gatech.edu\/manufacturing\u0022\u003EGeorgia Tech Manufacturing Institute\u003C\/a\u003E (GTMI) stepped in. Working with partner program \u003Ca href=\u0022http:\/\/georgiaaim.org\/\u0022\u003EGeorgia Artificial Intelligence in Manufacturing\u003C\/a\u003E (Georgia AIM), GTMI helped connect SRTC with the resources and expertise needed to develop a robust training program tailored to the needs of local manufacturers.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EMiller said at first, he was skeptical. \u201cWhen GTMI said they wanted to be partners, I thought, \u2018OK, this is another situation where we\u0027re going to talk for a minute, everybody says things and then goes away \u2014 and that\u2019s it,\u2019\u201d said Miller. \u201cThat\u0027s not how it\u0027s been at all.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ERather, it\u2019s been a true partnership driven by SRTC, with curriculum focused on automation and robotics developed by the Technical College System of Georgia and GTMI. The curriculum is also shaped by local industry input to directly address workforce gaps in the region\u2019s manufacturing sector.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cAs a state institution, we\u0027re here to serve you,\u201d said \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/research.gatech.edu\/people\/steven-sheffield\u0022\u003ESteven Sheffield\u003C\/a\u003E, senior assistant director of Research Operations at GTMI and a point person of the partnership.\u003Cstrong\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/strong\u003E\u201cTell us the problem, and we will work hard to try to solve it with you.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Ch3\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EFilling the Workforce Gap\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/h3\u003E\u003Cp\u003EMiller was committed to giving SRTC students the advanced manufacturing skills needed to stand out in the workforce. Yet the evolving manufacturing landscape and the needs of local manufacturers revealed gaps in SRTC\u2019s curriculum, particularly in AI, automation, and robotics.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EWith GTMI and Georgia AIM researchers contributing key expertise to the expanded smart manufacturing curriculum, Miller noted the partnership is \u201copening our eyes to what we can do with AI. We\u0027re going to start integrating that into our programs.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EBeyond AI and robotics, SRTC leadership identified a crucial gap in their program: training in precision machining, a skill that local manufacturers like \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/checkmateindustries.com\/\u0022\u003ECheck-Mate Industries\u003C\/a\u003E sorely needed.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cIf we want to attract new business and industry to Georgia, we need to be able to show them we can provide a skilled workforce,\u201d said Miller.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ETo address this missing piece, GTMI and Georgia AIM helped procure funding to acquire and refurbish precision-machining equipment from longtime partner \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.makino.com\/\u0022\u003EMakino\u003C\/a\u003E. Georgia AIM also supported the renovation and outfitting of two SRTC lab spaces with additional updated equipment.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ELast fall, SRTC launched its new Precision Manufacturing \u0026amp; Engineering and Manufacturing Engineering Technology programs, with instructors trained by GTMI faculty in precision manufacturing. The new program at SRTC is one example of the ways GTMI experts are working with communities across the state to expand access to training and new technology.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cNot a lot of technical colleges have this type of machinery,\u201d said \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/southernregional.edu\/faculty-staff-directory\/marvin-bannister\u0022\u003EMarvin Bannister\u003C\/a\u003E, SRTC precision machining and manufacturing program chair. Instructors like Bannister received specialized training at GTMI\u2019s \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/ampf.research.gatech.edu\/\u0022\u003EAdvanced Manufacturing Pilot Facility\u003C\/a\u003E to ensure they felt confident teaching students how to operate the machinery. \u201cNot only is it something else to add to my skill set, but the most important thing is that I\u0027ll be able to train other students who desire to learn on a machine like this.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EBecause of SRTC\u2019s expanded offerings, the technical college has strengthened partnerships and developed new internship programs with local manufacturers. \u201cWe all want the same thing,\u201d said Miller, \u201cwhich is to grow industry partnerships and to create a talent pipeline for our state.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EGTMI and Georgia AIM also support STEM programs with Thomasville area schools and internship programs for K-12 teachers with local manufacturers such as Check-Mate. These efforts deepen the connections between students and manufacturers, opening doors to future careers in the sector.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cWe\u2019re here to connect the dots and enable these types of partnerships,\u201d says \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/research.gatech.edu\/people\/steven-ferguson\u0022\u003ESteven Ferguson\u003C\/a\u003E, a principal research scientist with GTMI and co-director of Georgia AIM. \u201cWhen teams and their networks come together to solve a challenge for just one manufacturer, the impact can reach across an entire region.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E","summary":"","format":"limited_html"}],"field_subtitle":"","field_summary":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EThe programs are working with Southern Regional Technical College to equip students with advanced skills in smart manufacturing and robotics.\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"The programs are working with Southern Regional Technical College to equip students with advanced skills in smart manufacturing and robotics."}],"uid":"35575","created_gmt":"2025-05-28 19:42:06","changed_gmt":"2025-05-29 15:04:57","author":"adavidson38","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","location":"Atlanta, GA","dateline":{"date":"2025-05-28T00:00:00-04:00","iso_date":"2025-05-28T00:00:00-04:00","tz":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"hg_media":{"677151":{"id":"677151","type":"image","title":"Marvin-Training-AMPF.png","body":"\u003Cp\u003EAs part of the partnership, Southern Regional Technical College Instructor Marvin Bannister (center) received hands-on training on advanced machining equipment to prepare for teaching Georgia\u2019s next generation of manufacturers. Photo: Audra Davidson.\u003C\/p\u003E","created":"1748461764","gmt_created":"2025-05-28 19:49:24","changed":"1748461997","gmt_changed":"2025-05-28 19:53:17","alt":"As part of the partnership, Southern Regional Technical College Instructor Marvin Bannister (center) received hands-on training on advanced machining equipment to prepare for teaching Georgia\u2019s next generation of manufacturers.","file":{"fid":"261020","name":"Marvin-Training-AMPF.png","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2025\/05\/28\/Marvin-Training-AMPF.png","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2025\/05\/28\/Marvin-Training-AMPF.png","mime":"image\/png","size":8613723,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2025\/05\/28\/Marvin-Training-AMPF.png?itok=mCKmDwDN"}}},"media_ids":["677151"],"related_links":[{"url":"https:\/\/research.gatech.edu\/manufacturing-workforce-future","title":"Manufacturing the Workforce of the Future"},{"url":"https:\/\/research.gatech.edu\/ai-focused-grant-enhances-program-veterans","title":"AI-Focused Grant Enhances Program for Veterans"},{"url":"https:\/\/research.gatech.edu\/georgia-tech-and-georgia-quick-start-partner-improve-manufacturing-training","title":"Georgia Tech and Georgia Quick Start Partner to Improve Manufacturing Training"}],"groups":[{"id":"155831","name":"Georgia Tech Manufacturing Institute (GTMI)"},{"id":"1188","name":"Research Horizons"}],"categories":[{"id":"131","name":"Economic Development and Policy"},{"id":"42911","name":"Education"},{"id":"135","name":"Research"}],"keywords":[{"id":"187915","name":"go-researchnews"},{"id":"186857","name":"go-gtmi"}],"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\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":""}}}