Penn United Technologies recently graduated its first class of certified production technicians, a program it hopes will boost interest in manufacturing careers as well as the education level of those entering them.

Jim Ferguson, director of training for the precision manufacturer's Learning Institute for the Growth of High Technology in Jefferson Township, and Dave Lotz, the facility's full-time instructor, congratulated the graduates at a May 26 ceremony at the facility. They also thanked representatives of MEDRAD Inc., which supplied six of the seven students.

Carol Howard, MEDRAD training supervisor, said she learned about the program through the company's involvement with the Butler County Manufacturing Consortium.

Howard said MEDRAD used funding from the Tri-County Workforce Investment Board to help pay for the $3,600 course, which ran for five hours Mondays through Thursdays for eight weeks.

Ferguson said the national certification is offered through the Manufacturing Skill Standards Council and covers four major areas: safety, manufacturing processes and production, quality practices and measurements, and maintenance awareness.

Students study at L.I.G.H.T. and then are assessed at Butler County Community College, he said.

Jason Mamros and Michael Uhrin, both production supervisors at MEDRAD's Victory Road Business Park facility in Clinton Township, selected company employees for the course.

“It gives them the fast track that we can't do,” Mamros said.

Uhrin said even though the workers picked for the training already had years of experience at MEDRAD, they came back to work each afternoon with more knowledge.

“Everything we learned in that class helped out with what I was doing every day,” said James Armbrust, one of the CPT graduates and a machine operator at MEDRAD.

“It gave me more understanding about how things worked,” the Russellton, Allegheny County, resident said.

Diane Hughes of Saxonburg said she took the class to help advance from her temporary process lead position at MEDRAD.

MEDRAD employee Darren Allworth of Cranberry Township said the most valuable part was getting to apply the classroom learning to the manufacturing process.

However, the graduate who got the most out of the course was Randy Downing of Prospect.

The 39-year-old had worked as a lighting technician and with granite countertops, but could not find work because of the recession.

During his job search, he saw an advertisement in the Butler Eagle for the course and called Ferguson.

Downing said he had applied at Penn United several years ago and thought the course could help him get hired there.

“I thought it was something that would make my resume look better,” he said.

But he said the out-of-pocket expense was worth it because he landed a full-time job at Sonneborn in Petrolia, which is among companies that automatically interviews graduates.

Ferguson said classes can be modeled to fit a company's needs and online support is available for graduates.

Lotz, who had to become CPT certified to teach the course, said the training is ideal for those who are thinking about getting into the manufacturing field.

However, he said it can help experienced workers do their job better.

“When you work at a place, you only see one way to do something,” he said.

The Manufacturing Skill Standards Council developed the certified production technician program to train workers and to create a pipeline of new ones.Penn United Technologies’ Learning Institute for the Growth of High Technology is one of only two places in the state offering the national credential program.After attending the program, students are assessed at Butler County Community College.For information, contact Jim Ferguson at Penn United at 724-352-1507, Ext. 4621, or jim_ferguson@pennunited.com.Here are the four modules the course covers:SafetyPerform safety and environmental inspectionsPerform emergency drillsIdentify unsafe conditions and take corrective actionTrain how to use equipment safelyManufacturing processes and productionIdentify customer needsDetermine resources availableSet up equipmentCoordinate work flow with team membersDocument product and process compliancePrepare product for shipping and distributionQuality practices and measurementsParticipate in internal quality auditsCheck calibration of gauges and other equipmentCommunicate quality problemsIdentify fundamentals of blueprint readingMaintenance awarenessPrepare preventive maintenance and routine repairMonitor indicators to ensure correct operationsRecognize potential issues with basic production systems