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Commonwealth Centre for Advanced Training (CCAT) Now Under Construction  

MARTINSVILLE, VA – Robotics, automation, and human-machine interface are among the workforce skills needed for the fourth industrial revolution, or Industry 4.0, where cyber-physical systems communicate and cooperate with each other and with humans in real time and via cloud computing. Patrick Henry Community College is proud to announce its partnership with global industry and educational experts, Festo Didactic and the National Coalition of Certification Centers (NC3), to offer the Festo Industry 4.0 Certification Program (FI^4.0CP) for students and incumbent workers interested in Advanced Manufacturing and Industry 4.0 careers.

FI^4.0CP easily integrates with the college’s existing programs in Mechatronics, Industrial Electronics Technology, and General Engineering Technology and provides a globally recognized validation and certification of students’ skills in areas such as mechanical systems, electrical systems, pneumatic systems, programmable logic controllers, and robotic systems. Students will also have the opportunity to gain and certify advanced level skills in these areas, as well as product identification, human-machine interface, and cyber-physical systems.

PHCC will also provide customized training options for employers who want to address specific training needs for their current workforce. With this short-term, targeted training option, employers can address their specific immediate needs and employees can earn just the specific credentials they need.

One of the members of PHCC’s business and industry leadership team, Manufacturing Engineer Thad Christian from Virginia Glass, says these credentials “suit the needs I see in our workforce and could even enhance job satisfaction, reduce waste, and improve quality.”

In a meeting this week with the college, Festo, and NC3 representatives, many community business partners echoed Christian’s remarks stating that Festo certifications provided through short-term, dynamic training would enable their companies to focus resources, increase uptime, and ultimately impact productivity and efficiency.

“With these courses, [Arconic employees] could investigate and solve issues on their own to keep operation flowing and get us back into production quicker,” says Arconic’s HR Manager Glenn Wood “We've been partnering with the college to expand training and fill the pipeline. We need a pipeline [of employees] with specific skill sets.”

"We are creating a core workforce that can meet industry needs and attract future investments in this area," says PHCC’s president Dr. Angeline Godwin. "Focused industry training for both the future and current workforce is what our area needs for economic recovery. Ultimately, this is why PHCC exists – to meet the needs of our community.”

Students and employers interested in these certifications should contact PHCC’s Workforce and Economic Development department at 276-656-0260 or wecd@patrickhenry.edu. The college is currently enrolling students in degree pathways which will include these certifications this fall.

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