CLARKESVILLE - Trachte Southeast in Toccoa believes that its employees are a valuable resource and recently they proved it by offering seven employees the opportunity to take the new Certified Production Technician (CPT) training through North Georgia Technical College.
CPT is a nationally recognized Industry Certified program that prepares participants to take four Manufacturing Skills Standards Council (MSSC) CPT examinations. The course prepares students to take the four separate exams in General Industry Safety, Quality and Measurement, Manufacturing Processes and Production, and Maintenance Awareness. Each participant who successfully passes all four examinations will receive an OSHA 10 card, Six Sigma Yellow Belt, and CPT national certification.
“I had been looking for some kind of training for our entry level workers,” said Trachte Southeast Executive Vice President of Sales Rob Chaffee. “When I took this proposal to our corporate headquarters, they approved it immediately. We wanted to make this investment in our employees and we know it will pay off in the long run.”
In response to input and advice from manufacturers in the area, the Economic Development Department at North Georgia Technical College began offering the CPT program last fall. The CPT Certification addresses the core technical competencies of higher skilled production workers in all sectors of manufacturing. The nationwide MSSC System, based upon industry-defined and federally-endorsed standards, offers both entry-level and incumbent workers the opportunity to demonstrate that they have acquired the skills increasingly needed in the technology-intensive jobs of the 21st century.
For the last several months, Tyson Taylor, Kevin Blakley, Jose Guerrero, James McKenzie, Chad Hendricks, Joshua Wilburn, and Tim Canady attended class, studied hard, and took four different certification tests. To celebrate their completion of the program, the entire production team gathered together for the presentation.
“When we designed this certification program, we intended for it to be an entry-level collection of courses, but it turned out to be more intense,” said NGTC Acting President Dr. Mark Ivester. “We congratulate you for taking on this challenge and upgrading your skills. We are proud of you and you should be honored by the investment that Trachte has made in you.”
Trachte Manufacturing Manager Michael Terry noted that several of these men had already started to apply the techniques learned in the classroom to situations on the floor. “Each one has committed to sharing one of the lessons with the crew here,” he said. “It will be a great learning opportunity for everyone and I know it will further solidify their training.”
Trachte Southeast began operation in Stephens County in 2006 with five employees. Now, with a workforce that has grown to 39, the facility has been enlarged multiple times and is now more than double the original floor space. Trachte Southeast has extensive resources for integrating customer-provided equipment into high-quality metal equipment shelters.
For more information on Trachte products and services, visit www.trachteusa.com. For more information on the CPT program, contact Tim Bennett 706-754-7737 or [email protected]. To learn more about the CPT certification onlinehttp://www.msscusa.org/production-certification-cpt/.
