Tri-County Schedules Manufacturing Seminars During Textile Week

CONTACT: JIM WILSON, EXT. 2283

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 9/25/2001
(By Lisa Garrett)

PENDLETON ---- During Textile Week, Tri-County Technical College will offer seminars focusing on supervision, accident reduction, a safe workplace and lean manufacturing – all key issues for today's manufacturing workforce.

The College's Textile Management Technology department, in cooperation with its Business and Industry Training Department, will offer the Manufacturing Leadership Institute October 9 and 10. "Our goal is to further enhance the textile management leadership skills within industries in our tri-county area," said Jim Wilson, who leads the Textile Management Technology department

Noted author Mildred Ramsey will conduct "The Super Supervisor," Tuesday, October 9, from 8 – 11:30 a.m. in Tri-County's Industrial and Business Development Center. The cost is $50. She draws on her 40-plus years of experience as a production operator in textiles to give managers a candid insight into how the people working for them actually view them on a day-by-day basis.

"Safety Management Accident Reduction Training," followed by "Violence in the Workplace," will be held Tuesday, October 9, from 1 – 4 p.m. in Tri-County's Industrial and Business Development Center. Both sessions will be conducted by Van Henson, training coordinator for the Office of OSHA Voluntary Programs. There is no charge for either of these sessions.

"Manufacturing What Turns into Cash Quickest" will be held Wednesday, October 10, from 8 – 10 a.m. at the Clemson Apparel Research (CAR) in Pendleton. Bill Kernodle, site director of CAR, will talk about a software tool developed by CAR that uses customer demand to drive manufacturing processes by creating real-time asset visibility. There is no cost for this session which is designed for senior executives in the textile industry.

Seating is limited. To register for any class, contact Catherine Vinson, Ext. 2388, at 646-8361.

Nick Caldwell, president and general manager at La France Industries and chairman of Tri-County's Textile Management advisory committee, said associates ranging from first-line managers to plant managers at La France will be attending all three seminars. "Each year, La France sends managers to a training session to meet a professional development (education) goal. This year we will use the Safety Management Accident Reduction Training class to meet that goal for the training managers in our plant," he said.

"The advisory committee selected broader topics that can benefit any manufacturer," said Caldwell. "Because product lines are so diversified, we may not all speak the same language from a process standpoint, but we certainly do from a safety standpoint."

"In the world of textiles today, we are faced with ever-increasing demands to improve management and employee relations, as well as the work environment for employees," said Wilson. "Tri-County's Textile Advisory Committee worked hard to select relevant topics to be presented during these two days. We encourage not only textile companies but any manufacturer to take advantage of these worthwhile sessions."
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