S.C. auto summit: Clemson collaborations helping drive the state’s economy

Published: February 17, 2012

GREENVILLE — Automotive and aviation engineering have become an integral part of the state’s economy. Central to the success of these industries is an applicant pool rich with qualified technicians and engineers, Clemson University's associate vice president for workforce development said Friday.

Speaking at the 2012 S.C. Automotive Council’s Manufacturing Summit, Anand Gramopadhye said employers have jobs to fill, but they need a qualified workforce.

In partnership with technical colleges and industry in three key regions and funded by a $2.3 million National Science Foundation (NSF) grant, Clemson created the Clemson University Center for Workforce Development in aviation and automotive technology. The center will drive workforce development by providing technicians for the state’s key new manufacturing industries in areas that most need labor with specific skills.

“These programs are vital for workforce development in South Carolina,” Gramopadhye said. “If South Carolina is going attract manufacturers to the state it must develop qualified technicians with certificate programs these companies need.”

The partnership created satellite resource centers at three locations: Florence-Darlington in the Pee Dee, Greenville in the Upstate and the Charleston area of the Lowcountry.

The program’s focus brings national certificate programs and other modules to a wide audience of automotive and aviation technicians through virtual classrooms and personalized learning.

“Clemson’s role in workforce development is to help provide a talent pool to enable these key South Carolina employers remain competitive in the marketplace by extending the education pipeline through K-12,” Gramopadhye said.

The two-day auto summit at the Embassy Suites Golf Resort and Conference Center featured remarks by Gov. Nikki Haley, state Commerce Secretary Bobby Hitt, and representatives from across the auto industry. The summit included a tour of the Clemson University International Center for Automotive Research (CU-ICAR), including the Carroll A. Campbell Jr. Graduate Engineering Center.

Speakers Friday included William Strauss, senior economist and economic adviser at the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago and U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), who spoke in a videotaped message.

South Carolina has become one of the world’s leaders in automotive research and is encouraged by the collaboration of business, academia and the public sector, Graham said.

“Whether it be state, local or federal governments, we’re all on board for trying to create a good environment and grow jobs in the automotive sector," he said.

The summit’s lineup of Clemson speakers was completed by industrial engineering professor Bill Ferrell. He works closely with industry on research, and to formulate degree and certificate programs, such as a master of engineering online program for full-time employees.

Through the NSF Industry/University Cooperative Research Center’s Center for Excellence in Logistics and Distribution, Ferrell collaborates with research universities and companies nationwide on projects from supply chain and logistics to transportation. Industry members fund research with the aim of improving their operations, with basic research findings available to all.

“What all these projects have in common is student involvement,” Ferrell said. “These are real-time projects with real-world applications — and Clemson students are involved throughout.”

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