By Barry H. Hendrix
Thomasville High School began offering a new Modern Manufacturing career tech class this school year. Approximately 38 students signed up for the class.
Burkes Mechanical Contracting of Thomasville was one of many area companies and industries, who encouraged the school administration to develop the class. And Burkes stepped up in the first month by dressing all the students in professional work equipment, including safety glasses, hard hats, safety vests and ear plugs. These are the basic supplies that every industrial worker needs. With that donation, the students knew right away that this career tech course was a serious endeavor.
Safety is number one in manufacturing, said Jimmy Williams, instructor for the new course, and by having that equipment at the start, the instructor already had a first step in preparing his students. “The purpose of this course is to get students ready for the workforce,” he said. Mills in the surrounding area are in need for skilled workers. Williams wants the students to be prepared to work at companies such as International Paper, Louisiana-Pacific (LP), Westervelt, Canfor, Scotch Plywood, Packaging Corporation of America (PCA), and Georgia Pacific.
In a recent article from Fortune magazine, writer Mark Rayfield said “the U.S. will need to fill 3.8 million manufacturing jobs over the next decade, according to a Deloitte and Manufacturing Institute study. Yet half, some 1.9 million roles, could go unfulfilled.”
Williams has more than 30 years of manufacturing experience. In the first weeks of the school year, he has begun to instill the discipline and attention to detail needed. Not only does he demonstrate how to wear and use the equipment, provided by Burkes, but the need to follow a work ethic: be on time, follow instructions, be honest, solve problems, own your mistakes, etc.
Students should act in the classroom like they are expected to work on the job site.
Williams has taught how to look out for safety hazards. Also, “if you don’t know something, ask questions. Don’t just jump in there and try to do something and you don’t know what you’re doing.” Preparation is very important before working on a job site.
In a few more weeks, the students will move from a classroom to a renovated work area on the THS campus, which will feature tabletop and console computer manufacturing simulators. Plans are for the installation of a Reach Lift Truck Personal Simulator, a Skid Steer Loader Simulator and a Hydraulic Excavator Simulator.
There will also be Amatrol Modules offering interactive industrial training. Students will be able to earn professional certification from the simulators.
THS and the Career Tech Department would like to thank Burkes Mechanical for the generous donation to the students and their continued support of this exciting endeavor.
(Photo cutline: Zamarion Taylor, Christopher Rowden, Corey Hosea, Leonard Robinson and Ja'Keim Clark, students in the Modern Manufacturing program at Thomasville High School, are wearing gear donated to all the program students by Burkes Mechanical.)