By Keith Gushard
ERIE — Paul Sculley knows the need for obtaining the latest education in manufacturing.
As general manager of Triangle Tool, the tooling and machining division of the Plastek Group of Erie, Sculley said a work force educated in the latest technology is critical for success in a global economy.
“We’re in a very competitive business,” he said. “We need a highly skilled and highly educated work force to stay competitive. We need more specialized training now as machines have advanced.”
Machines have evolved from controlled by hand into computer-controlled operations.
The problem for Sculley has been the ability to find convenient training in Erie for his workers — whether it’s basic instruction for a new hire or a skills improvement course for a long-time employee.
“We’ve not been able to get training (in Erie) on a consistent basis,” Sculley said. “We’ve had problems in the past — a class gets canceled because there’s not an instructor or not enough students.”
Meadville-based Precision Manufactur-ing Institute and Edinboro University of Pennsylvania announced Friday they’re teaming up to fill the need in Erie by offering manufacturing-related courses.
PMI, a 23-year-old industrial training center and teaching laboratory, will start offering classes Feb. 22 at Edinboro’s Porreco Center in suburban Erie.
Initial classes offered at the Porreco Center will include robotics operations and programming; industrial hydraulics; MasterCAM 2D, a manufacturing software; and geometric dimensions and tolerances in manufacturing.
“It’s our hope that this collaboration will provide the customized training needed to continue to make Erie’s manufacturing businesses competitive and, just as important, keep them in business,” said Dan Higham, chairman of PMI’s board of directors.
Edinboro and PMI have had a cooperative partnership for the past eight years in Meadville. They plan to continue their relationships with area business and industrial leaders to ensure the curriculum remains current and relevant.
“By offering these courses we are, in essence, manufacturing manufacturers,” said Jeremy Brown, Edinboro’s president. “It’s a shared vision which has brought our two institutions together, a win-win proposition for Erie residents and businesses.”
Local classes in Erie — especially in robotics — is good news for Sculley.
“We have robotics on seven of our (tooling) machines — we need to have people who know how to run them,” Sculley said.
Courses at the Porreco Center initially will be offered to Erie businesses and their employees with long-term plans to provide customized industrial training to the general public.
“We want to provide comprehensive technical education to the people of Erie,” Brown said.
Keith Gushard can be reached at 724-6370 or by e-mail at kgushard@meadvilletribune.com.
