Four students participated in the first Siemens Level I course offered through Piedmont Community College’s (PCC) Continuing Education program in May. This course provides training and the knowledge to prepare for the Siemens Level 1 Certification exam, a nationally recognized certification.

Students Mark Harrill, Gladys Moore, John David Shaw, and Blake Gentry completed the course, taught by PCC instructor Mike Cobb, and passed the Siemens Level 1 Certification exam.

The Mechatronics program focuses on the integration of mechanical, electrical (electronics), fluid power (hydraulics or pneumatics), and computer technologies to control machine movements. The students’ studies begin with courses in mechanics, sensors, basic electronics, pneumatics, control logic, and robot programming control.

In addition to receiving training in job seeking essentials needed to provide marketable skills for manufacturing technicians in the Mechatronics field and having an opportunity to earn their NC Career Readiness Certificate (CRC), successful completers also have the opportunity to obtain college credit by examination in PCC’s Mechatronics Engineering Technology curriculum program.

left to right are: Mark Harrill, Gladys Moore, Lucinda Clay, NCWorks Job-Driven program representative, and John David Shaw. Not pictured: Blake Gentry

Funding was also made available to students through the NCWorks Job-Driven program. This grant provides pre-employment training for specific entry-level technical jobs that focus on skill competencies leading to industry-recognized or state-regulated credentials. The NCWorks Job-Driven program can pay for registration fees, certification exam fees, books and supplies.

To enroll in the Siemens Level I Mechatronics orientation and training or for more information, contact PCC’s Workforce Development Team at (336) 322-2156 or the Workforce Training Center at (336) 599-4620. Financial assistance is available to qualified unemployed, underemployed, and economically distressed individuals.

 The Next Class:
PCC will offer a free Siemens Level I Orientation class beginning on August 14. This orientation class provides the opportunity for students to determine if a career in mechatronics is appropriate for them. Students will learn basic computer skills, how to prepare for the upcoming Siemens Level I training, and will study and sit for the NC Career Readiness Certificate. Those successfully completing this class will qualify for financial assistance with the full Siemens Level I training.

The full Siemens Level I training course will begin August 28. During the 320-hour course students will receive instruction in four major areas: hydraulics, electrical, mechanical and PLCs (programmable logic controllers). These four basic components represent a mechatronics system which drives the automated processes in an advanced manufacturing environment. For those with a manufacturing background, this is the next step in obtaining skills valuable to local manufacturing companies. For those wishing to gain access to local manufacturing jobs, this is your means of gaining access to job vacancies.

About the Instructor:
Mike Cobb is the instructor for the Manufacturing Skill Standards Council (MSSC) Certified Production Technician, Certified Logistics Technician, OSHA 10 Safety Training, NSC Lift Truck Operator Training at Piedmont Community College located in Roxboro, North Carolina.

He received his instructor certifications from Manufacturing Skill Standards Council (MSSC) in Certified Production Technician (Safety, Quality, Manufacturing and Maintenance), Certified Logistics Technician and Green Manufacturing, North Carolina State University OSHA 501 (OSHA 10 and 30) Instructor Certification, and National Safety Council Lift Truck Operator Instructor. Mike is also certified to instruct basic electrical, control concepts, machine automation, hydraulics, pneumatics, belt drives, chain drives, bearings and couplings and lubrication concepts. He earned his Master of Industrial Technology degree from NC A&T State University, Greensboro, NC and Bachelor of Business Administration from Averett University.

His work experience includes thirty-five years of manufacturing and management experience in development, coordination and documentation of training programs at Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company in Danville, Virginia. He began his career in manufacturing as an hourly machine operator at Goodyear and was later selected as technical labor trainer for production machine operations. He was selected for promotion to Training Coordinator developing and coordinating the training for five-hundred employees at Goodyear and later promoted to Plant Education and Training Manager with the responsibility for meeting compliance for corporate and OSHA training for two thousand six hundred employees.

Photo: left to right are: Mark Harrill, Gladys Moore, Lucinda Clay, NCWorks Job-Driven program representative, and John David Shaw. Not pictured: Blake Gentry

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