The National Center for Manufacturing Sciences (NCMS) today announced that project manager Dana Ellis has been elected Chairman of the Olympic College Manufacturing Technology Advisory Committee. The committee works to further the future careers of Olympic College students in a variety of technical field programs through building partnerships with local industry, providing internships through these partners, and critically reviewing course curriculum to maintain currency and relevance for manufacturing technology education.
“Kitsap County has one of the lowest unemployment rates in the state, and Olympic College with its regional technical employers is a strong contributing factor,” said Ellis. “As Chairman of the Advisory Committee, I’m using the same collaborative methods that are core to NCMS principles, as the Committee works with local industry to improve Olympic’s program. The creation of jobs is our long term goal.”
The Manufacturing Technology program allows Olympic College to tailor its curriculum to meet the needs of the local community, local employers, and the military in overcoming the challenges of the current recession and meeting the requirements of the 21st century. Other technical programs at the College include Welding, Technical Design, and Electronics. These programs have all been identified as leading to successful manufacturing careers, and together fall under the Department of Labor-Pipeline to Manufacturing Careers Program. Each program has an Associate of Technical Arts Degree and/or certificate awarded upon successful completion of the courses. Local partners include NCMS, SafeBoats, and the Puget Sound Naval Shipyard.
NCMS is a national collaborative R&D organization which drives innovation through the rapid development and deployment of new manufacturing technologies and processes, while leveraging the strength of cross-sector collaboration. NCMS programs in the Pacific Northwest have addressed development of technology for security applications at military installations, vulnerability and risk assessment, emergency management processes and infrastructure protection. NCMS also manages sustainment and reset technology projects at Puget Sound Naval Shipyard and Naval Undersea Warfare Center Keyport.
