The Automation Federation is making strides toward its goal to be a leading voice for engineering in workforce development programs. It has been selected by the Piedmont Triad Partnership (PTP) of North Carolina to manage a roundtable of manufacturing executives and business leaders to give advanced manufacturing a voice in workforce development efforts in the region. The Advanced Manufacturing Industry Cluster will explore workforce development issues within the sector, including education, training and retraining, skill gaps and workforce development opportunities.
PTP was selected as one of 13 regional areas in the country to be awarded a WIRED (Workforce Innovation in Regional Economic Development) grant through the U.S. Department of Labor. The $15 million grant, announced in February 2006, funds the creation of four targeted industry clusters in the region: Advanced Manufacturing, Creative Enterprises/Arts, Health Care, and Logistics/Distribution.
The Automation Federation—formed by the Instrumentation, Systems and Automation Society (ISA) in 2006—is an umbrella organization for associations and societies engaged in manufacturing and process automation activities. It is based in Research Triangle Park, N.C.
“Through our management of the Advanced Manufacturing Industry Cluster, we'll have the opportunity to bring the recognized expertise of our member organizations and all we have to offer to over 1400 manufacturing companies in the region,” said Automation Federation Chairman Steve Huffman. “This initiative furthers our mission to increase awareness about advanced manufacturing and develop the next generation of automation professionals.”
“We anticipate great success with the leadership of the Automation Federation,” said Theresa Reynolds, WIRED Project Manager. “We hope our region can become a workforce development model for other regions across the country and around the world, and we're confident that the Automation Federation's network of experts can help us achieve our goals.”
Automation Federation
www.AutomationFederation.org
Piedmont Triad Partnership of North Carolina
www.piedmonttriadnc.com
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