Chattahoochee Technical College and Shaw Industries partnered to provide workforce training in industrial maintenance for a dozen Shaw employees, who were selected for the company’s Ignite Apprenticeship program. Graduates of this training were honored in a ceremony held Tuesday, June 4 at Shaw Industries Plant 15 in Cartersville.
Over the course of 32 weeks, these training participants completed 256 hours of instruction led by Chattahoochee Tech Industrial Maintenance Instructor Thomas Goulding. Topics of study ranged from industrial motors and wiring to mechanical systems and tools, piping systems, industrial automation systems, and manufacturing safety. At the celebration ceremony, Chattahoochee Tech awarded each participant a certificate of completion, which is a component of the U.S. Department of Labor Apprentice program sponsored by the college. This training also will translate into 14 credit hours at Chattahoochee Tech for those who would like to continue with their education. The credit hours earned by each participant will count toward 20 percent of the college’s associate degree program in Industrial Maintenance & Electrical Technology.
The college’s Department of Economic Development developed this local workforce training initiative in industrial maintenance to help local industry prepare their current employees for those hard-to-fill positions in manufacturing. In total, the Ignite Apprenticeship program at Shaw Industries is one year long, and it consists of two components – the instruction provided by Chattahoochee Tech and on-the-job training provided by the company. After the completion of both components, participants will receive a U.S. Department of Labor Apprentice Certificate for Industrial Maintenance Mechanic.
“We need the skills and talent that you guys are learning and acquiring,” said Shaw Industries Director Nolan Howell to the graduates. “Thank you for the commitment you put into this program. I look forward to seeing what you accomplish in the years to come.”
