Co-op Students are Welcome Addition to Rockwell Automation Dodge

CONTACT: BUTCH MERRITT, EXT. 2381

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 4/22/99
(By Lisa Garrett)

PENDLETON --- Two cooperative education students from Tri-County Technical College are a welcome addition to Rockwell Automation Dodge's plant in Belton.

The College's cooperative education program is mutually beneficial for the company and the two students who are working part time and attending classes, said Human Resources Manager Mike Butler.

Patrick Jackson, of Williamston, a General Engineering Technology major, and Brian McClure, of Anderson, a University Transfer major, work flex-time shifts at the plant that manufactures speed reducers for conveyor systems and food processing systems. Each works an average of 24 hours a week at the seven-year-old plant that employs 125 associates.

"Students gain valuable work experience while earning a degree," said Mr. Butler. The work provides them with a vision and the experience to be part of the manufacturing environment. They both have a tremendous amount of initiative, which is a great asset. They are helping us to accomplish projects that otherwise could have been delayed. Since they both live in Anderson County, it's also a way to give back to the local community."

Patrick, a 1996 graduate of Palmetto High School and the Career and Technology Center, says he is impressed with Tri-County's personal approach to teaching and the co-op opportunity. "I feel like a full-time employee at Rockwell Automation Dodge. It's a clean, relaxed atmosphere, and I work with good employees. And, it's close to home."

"This experience is benefiting Patrick and me," said Paul Suppinger, who supervises Patrick and is manufacturing engineer manager for the plant. "It's exposing him to different facets of engineering, whether it's industrial engineering or mechanical engineering," he said. He says Patrick's duties range from creating spread sheets using Excel, to pulling information from blueprints, to supporting production. Patrick also has done hands-on assembly work in the shop and has taken time standards of employees.

"I'm very satisfied with his performance and the speed at which he picks things up," said Mr. Suppinger. "He's as efficient and as adept as any other co-op who may already have had two to three years of experience. He is helping me, my department and the plant. It's a plus to have him here. He has a good future ahead of him."

Steve Hoover, project manager for the plant's Quantis department, is equally as pleased with Brian's work performance and is grateful to have him on board. "It's been hectic in the our department, and we're lucky because Brian is able to adapt to the rapidly changing manufacturing environment. He is thorough and dependable, and we could use him three times as much as we have him. He has organized the inventory system and has designed a material handling system for new castings. In addition, he has been shipping parts to Germany. He has been able to attack safety issues and has had some good ideas, which have been implemented," said Mr. Hoover.

McClure says the co-op has helped him to determine that mechanical engineering will be his major when he transfers to Clemson University. "The co-op has given me organizational and problem-solving skills, and has increased my ability to adapt to situations," said McClure, who was a Navy air traffic controller for almost six years before entering Tri-County Tech. "This is the chance of a lifetime. Most engineering co-ops are for four-year degree students. I'm very lucky – I can go to Tri-County Tech and continue working in a great job."

Mr. Butler said that, financially, it's been advantageous for the company to hire co-ops. "We couldn't hire a full-time employee at this point in time. This experience has allowed us to get part-time employees who could complete projects that otherwise would be on hold," said Mr. Butler.

Companies interested in cooperative education opportunities should contact Butch Merritt, director of cooperative education, at Ext. 2381 at one of these numbers: Anderson County, 225-2250; Oconee County -- 882-4412; Pickens County -- 859-7033; or Clemson/Anderson/Pendleton -- 646-8361. Persons who are deaf, hard of hearing or speech disabled should call TDD/VOICE 1-800-735-2905.
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