Gov. Sonny Perdue has announced that the Georgia Dept. of Economic Development (GDEcD) and the Dept. of Technical and Adult Education (DTAE) will open the Governor's Center of Innovation in Manufacturing Excellence (CIME) this fall. Located at Lanier Technical College in Gainesville, Ga., CIME aims to help Georgia manufacturers with applied research and training in response to rapid changes in manufacturing, according to Perdue's office.
"Georgia manufacturers employ thousands of Georgians across this state," Perdue said at the announcement of the center April 21. "In order to help them stay competitive and create more jobs, this new center of innovation will assist manufacturing companies with research, new technology and the skilled workforce they need to succeed."
Officials said the center will go beyond current levels of available training, such as technical colleges, and provide "new, innovative training solutions that are needed to keep Georgia on the leading edge of high-tech job creation."
Manufacturers across the country are suffering from a lack of skilled workers, a problem that is expected to worsen in the next decade as aging workers retire and young workers shun "factory work." CIME training will include production systems, automation technology, robotics and advanced manufacturing technology peripheral software systems.
Specifics on how the center will assist with research weren't released.
