Factory Floor to Classroom
March 20 2018 - 10:40AM
Business Wire
GE Aviation managers in growing Auburn plant share teaching
duties with Alabama State Training program.
Joseph Moore works days on the shop floor at GE Aviation’s
fast-growing jet engine factory in Auburn – then teaches his
experiences at night in the classroom.
He’s one of several operations managers at GE’s Auburn site with
a teaching role during the month-long vocational training sessions
at Southern Union State Community College near Auburn to prepare
GE’s growing foster of hourly workers.
About four sessions are held annually to handle the demand for
more trained workers in the GE Auburn factory. In addition to the
Southern Union instructors, the program includes Moore and his GE
colleagues each leading a three-hour evening of instruction each
week.
“I really enjoy the interaction,” says Moore, who teaches lean
manufacturing, Six Sigma quality practices, and compliance. “Being
part of the training also allows us to get a good look at the
people we are evaluating for positions at the plant.”
The close cooperation between GE Aviation, Southern Union, and
the Alabama Department of Commerce is another example of GE
Aviation preparing workers for the skill sets required in its new
modern factories across the U.S.
GE’s Auburn facility uses sophisticated equipment to machine
advanced turbine airfoils and structural components for jet
engines. Machine operators vying for positions are first trained at
Southern Union with a curriculum developed by the Alabama
Industrial Development Training (AIDT) division and by local GE
plant leaders.
GE is actively involved in the training process because GE
Auburn is ramping up fast. Employment reached 200 people in March
and is expected to grow to 280 by year’s end, according to plant
manager Ricardo Acevedo.
GE Auburn produces components for the fastest-selling jet engine
in commercial aviation history, the “LEAP” engine for CFM
International, the 50/50 joint company of GE and Safran Aircraft
Engines of France.
More than 14,000 LEAP engines are on back order to power three
airplanes: the Airbus Industrie A320neo, Boeing 737 MAX, and
China’s COMAC C919. The Airbus and Boeing airplanes are now in
airline service. The GE and Safran factories delivered 459 LEAP
engines in 2017. The LEAP delivery goal for 2018 is up to 1,200
engines, and in the 1,800-engine range in 2019.
In addition to machining parts, the Auburn site this year will
produce more than 34,000 fuel nozzle injectors for the LEAP engine
using laser-powder, additive manufacturing machines. Auburn’s 37
additive machines is expected to grow to 45 by mid-year to handle
the needed higher volume.
These employees require six weeks of in-house training. GE is
looking at ways to engage the local community colleges in offering
additive manufacturing as part of their curriculum. GE Aviation is
also engaging with engineering students at Auburn University in
additive manufacturing projects.
Training for GE’s Auburn employees is not limited to community
college classes. The plant also offers training in non-destructive
testing where employees become certified to evaluate jet engine
components scanned in advanced X-ray machines. “There’s a skills
shortage in this field,” says Tory Landry, the plant’s human
relations leader. “It’s hard to find the people. We offer in-house
training to candidates who can then experience a significant pay
increase.”
Among the factors Acevedo attributes to high retention at the
plant is the GE investment in training. “There are great careers in
advanced manufacturing,” he says.
Over the past decade, GE Aviation has opened eight new
facilities in the United States, including the new factory in
Auburn. Other locations include Asheville, North Carolina;
Lafayette, Indiana; and Huntsville, Alabama. Over the past seven
years, GE Aviation has invested more than $4.5 billion in its U.S.
manufacturing operations.
GE Aviation, an operating unit of GE (NYSE: GE), is a
world-leading provider of jet and turboprop engines, components and
integrated systems for commercial, military, business and general
aviation aircraft. GE Aviation has a global service network to
support these offerings.
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version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20180320006150/en/
GE AviationRick KennedyCell:
513.607.0609rick.l.kennedy@ge.com
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