Pratt & Whitney
A-B Tech partners with a new local employer, Pratt & Whitney, an American aerospace manufacturer. With global service operations, the company is building a 1 million-square-foot advanced manufacturing center on a 100-acre site in South Asheville. This local plant will make airfoils for civilian and military engines, including the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter and several Airbus and Embraer civilian jets. To operate the plant, Pratt & Whitney will need to hire skilled workers. A-B Tech offers the training needed to develop the necessary technical skills for new hires.
Check out this video to see the progress.
A-B Tech is working to provide a pipeline of skilled workers. Pratt & Whitney has endorsed short-term training programs including:
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Machining Fundamentals
15 weeks, 330 hours
Learn to operate mills and lathes, drill presses, saws, and grinders. Students work hands-on with actual equipment to learn basic automated machining. Additional course topics include an introduction to CNC machining, shop safety, blueprint reading, shop math, Lean Manufacturing principles, teamwork, and problem-solving. -
Certified Production Technician
Online, self-paced
Covers safety, quality practices and measurement, manufacturing and production processes, and maintenance awareness. This course prepares students to pass the four exams required to receive the Certified Production Technician (CPT) certification. -
CNC 101
6 weeks, 96 hours, Prerequisite = Machining Fundamentals or at least one year of industry experience
Work hands-on with CNC mills and lathes to learn basic automated machining. Topics include CNC programming, setup, operation, troubleshooting and maintenance, general machining principles, shop safety, blueprint reading, shop math, Lean Manufacturing principles, teamwork, and problem-solving.
For more information, contact the Advanced Manufacturing Center at amc@abtech.edu or (828) 398-7760.
A-B Tech Classes Endorsed by Pratt & Whitney
Other Regional Community Colleges Offering Similar Programs
Other Western Region Community Colleges offer similar programs, which also increase students' opportunities for employment with Pratt & Whitney.
| Mayland Community College | Certified Production Technician |
For more information contact: Ted Ollis
|
|---|---|---|
| Haywood Community College | Machining Level One Certification |
For more information contact: Doug Birchfield
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| Blue Ridge Community College |
Machining Fundamentals Industrial Maintenance Non-Destructive Testing QA/ QC |
For more information contact: Shanda Bedoian
|
| Western Piedmont Community College | Machining Technology Certificate |
For more information contact: Rick Furse
|
| McDowell Tech Community College | Certified Production Technician |
Stacey Buff
|
General Information About the Local Pratt & Whitney Project:
| New jobs: | 800 over 5 years, 300 – 400 to start |
|---|---|
| Job categories: | Machine setup and operation, quality, material handling, engineering, shipping and receiving, facility and equipment maintenance, and business support |
| Number of shifts: | 3 |
| Salaries: | Undetermined at this time. P&W has a projected annual payroll of nearly $55 million, with the positions averaging $68,000 a year. |
| Planned open date: | 2023 |
| Timelines: |
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