By Guest Contributor Randy Looper | Principal of Carolina Media Group
Greenville Tech’s Keith Miller explains why the Upstate needs the Center for Manufacturing Innovation
Bob Howard, president of the Greenville Technical College Foundation, welcomed Dr. Keith Miller, president of Greenville Technical College, as the keynote speaker at The Marchant Company Quarterly Breakfast. Miller’s presentation focused on The Center for Manufacturing Innovation (CMI) to be located at the Millennium Campus adjacent to the Clemson University International Center for Automotive Research (CU-ICAR) Technology Neighborhood Number One.
CMI will offer education designed to meet industry needs, including dual-credit programs in partnership with Greenville County Schools, bridge programs that allow a student to move from associate degree to bachelor’s degree, and workforce training certificate programs that increase the qualifications of manufacturing employees. Miller noted that CMI will be the fifth Greenville Technical College campus in the Upstate.
Why Do We Need a CMI?
Miller related that the manufacturing sector is first in gross regional product (GRP), first in total earnings and third in number employed, responsible for nearly all annual capital investment, and is the driving sector with the highest multiplier effect in the Upstate. Another significant factor is that the manufacturing workforce is aging, as 54 percent of existing skilled manufacturing workers are approaching retirement age, and the education/training pipeline doesn’t include enough young workers.
Miller related that these high-paying skilled manufacturing jobs are now being recruited from out of state and CMI will be focused on deterring that trend. CMI will educate and provide highly skilled training for the advanced manufacturing workforce to serve not only automotive but also transportation and other high-tech sectors.
Collaboration Is Key
Reaching down to the ninth- and tenth-grade high schools, Miller explained that exposing our students to this innovative technical college and leading research university with advanced manufacturing training and curriculum is vital. Inviting Upstate high school counselors to tour local manufacturing facilities where they can be made aware of these exciting new opportunities for their students is currently and will be in the future a springboard for generating enthusiasm toward a career in manufacturing. Continued involvement of the area manufacturers in early recruitment will increase their competitive edge and foster the growth of new manufacturing opportunities in the Upstate.
CMI Offerings
Dual-credit programs in partnership with Greenville County Schools are key, noted Miller, along with bridge programs that will allow a student to move from an associate degree to a bachelor’s degree even after many years between education stints. There will also be workforce training and certificate programs that will increase the skills of the local manufacturing workforce.
CMI will also offer landing space for companies that are startups relocating to the Upstate and flexible space where manufacturers can create prototypes and teach current employees more advanced cutting-edge skills.
CMI will open in spring of 2016, Miller projected.
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Earlier in the breakfast presentation, Seabrook Marchant, founder and president of The Marchant Company, updated the group on 2014 versus 2013 real estate market activity and encouraging local trends affecting real estate sales. The Marchant Company is a locally owned real estate company that has been in business for more than 20 years. With over 200 years of combined experience in Greenville and South Carolina real estate marketing, The Marchant Company offers a full line of services including: seller’s agency, buyer’s agency, bank-owned (RE) services, relocation packages, property management and real estate investment services. Learn more at marchantco.com.
