CONTRIBUTED

One program at Sandhills Community College that gets little recognition - yet is important to the community - is the customized training program (CTP).

This is one of the essential work force development initiatives that specifically customizes training and services for Moore and Hoke County businesses and industries, a college news release said.

The college has experienced many successes in the CTP. In addition to Burlington Industries, American Growler, Situs and Meridian Kiosks, Unilever in Raeford has been a participant in Sandhills' CIT program. They have utilized the CTP for the past several years.

Recently, four Unilever employee students made a presentation at the plant to a group of college personnel, industry professionals and numerous other individuals that concluded with the requirements for an associate's degree from SCC.

The students demonstrated a Total Productive Maintenance (TPM) Kaizen approach for a solution to an identified problem on a particular piece of equipment in the factory. Their instructor was Buzz Rust.

One student, Randy Cain, will continue his studies at East Carolina University, while the others will assume more responsibilities at Unilever and seek additional education.

"These students completed this important step in their journey, but it is only the beginning to the opportunities ahead with Unilever plant and in their personal development," says Georgia Szewczak, plant manager for the Unilever Raeford campus. "I am pleased with the success of these young men resulting from a culmination of years of collaborative work.

"The partnership with Sandhills Community College is a step in the direction of our becoming a world-class facility, goal of the Unilever Raeford plant. The completion of this program qualifies them for higher skills-based jobs. We need more of that and we need to sell the concept and rewards of higher education to others within the plant."

Alan Duncan, senior director for business and industry services at SCC, said, "Our mission is to meet the training needs of the businesses and industries in the community we serve. What a better testament of this mission than the success of these students and our partnership with Unilever."

Andi Korte, dean of continuing education at Sandhills Community College, said, "We are proud to work with Unilever and appreciate the positive impact Unilever has on the community. Teamwork is key to success and the Sandhills Community College team deserves thanks for streamlining the training to meet the needs of the Unilever Raeford site. That team includes Alan Duncan and professors Ron Layne, Paul Steel, Alisa Williams, Rick Hooker and Mike Roscoe."

Students completing the program were: James Locklear, Jose Cortez, Randy Cain and Barry Breeden. All of these students were promoted within the Unilever plant.

For a business or industry to be eligible for training assistance, it must meet two of four criteria: the business is making an appreciable capital investment; it is employing new technology; it is creating jobs, expanding an existing work force or enhancing the productivity and profitability of the operations within North Carolina; or the skills of the workers will be enhanced by the assistance.

Anyone needing more information regarding CTP can contact Duncan at (910) 695-3769 or duncana@sandhills.edu or follow the business and industry link from the homepage of the college's website at sandhills.edu.