Combining the Training and Testing Needs of
Industries with the Same Basic Need
RCCI Institute
August 3, 2004
Dr. H. James Owen, President Piedmont Community College
Merrill Wilcox, Vista Volunteer Piedmont Community College
Lee Proctor, Director, Research and Inst. Effectiveness Piedmont Community College
proctol@piedmont.cc.nc.us
(336) 599-1181
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Person Automotive Cluster Training
(PACT)
History
Local industries approached the College for assistance with training needs. The
College’s grant writer researched available grants sources to support the training. The
Golden Leaf Foundation (North Carolina’s Tobacco Settlement Money,
www.goldenleaf.org) had a Jobs Development program option that directly related to job
retention in tobacco-dependent and economically affected counties. The proposal had to
fit into one of four areas and the College submitted an Industry Cluster Training Grant
designed to support cooperative efforts between business leaders and training providers
to organize programs that address the development of transferable skills related to
regional industry sectors. Awards were linked to a proposal’s ability to address skill
requirements of an industry sector that would lead to direct employment opportunities.
The College has four industries within its service area that manufacture automotive
related parts:
 GKN Driveline – front-wheel assemblies
 Eaton – air valves and lash adjustors
 Collins and Aikman – automotive textiles
 Strutmasters – suspension conversion kits
When approached, each of these four industries had similar training needs and wished to
participate in the project. The Golden Leaf Foundation funded the (PACT) Person
Automotive Cluster Training Program for $100,000 for 18 months – from December 1,
2003 – May 31, 2005.
PACT Program Goals and Objectives
Positively impact retaining and expansion of employment opportunities within Person
County’s Automotive Cluster.
 Retain at least 1,982 jobs
 Create at least 25 employee positions
 Involve at least 400 people in training
 Maintain at least a 95% employer satisfaction rating
 Conduct Bi-Monthly PACT Advisory Board Meetings
Grant Covers
 Leadership Development
 Programmable Logic Controllers
 Fluid Power Maintenance Hydraulics
 WorkKeys Job Profiling
 WorkKeys Assessments
 KeyTrain
 Customer Service
Cost includes: Registration/Tuition, Student textbooks, Contract/Consultants,
WorkKeys/KeyTrain Assessment fees, Instructional Materials
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Training Benefits
The training initiatives provide employees or potential employees with skills and abilities
to enable them to be more productive at work. Improved employee productivity will
translate to increased productivity of the cluster industries. Training received by
employees are transferable to other industries.
PACT Program’s Benefits
 Increase training opportunities for PACT members
 Increase employment opportunities
 Increased likelihood of PACT industries being retained
 Coordinated delivery of training for PACT members that has not been locally
available otherwise in the past
 Increased coordination between industrial community, Economic Development
and the College in meeting the current and future needs of area industries
 Ability to meet on a routine basis to delineate actual and future training needs and
to prioritize those needs.
WorkKeys and Keytrain
Piedmont Community College originally purchased the KeyTrain software in the subject
areas of “Reading for Information,” “Applied Mathematics,” and “Writing” to assess
Teacher Assistants who were trying to test out of the requirements for the federal
legislation of “No Child Left Behind.” Area public school administrators preferred for
the teacher assistants to be assessed prior to enrolling in the KeyTrain laboratory set up to
help prepare the teacher assistants for the assessments. A number of the teacher
assistants test out of the training requirement, however those that did not were reluctant
to enroll in the KeyTrain labs. Therefore, the College did not feel the KeyTrain was
effectively utilized for the teacher assistants. The experience gained from this activity,
led the College staff to an understanding of how KeyTrain and WorkKeys could be used
for improving the preparation level of the local workforce.
The College received several grants to use WorkKeys and KeyTrain to help dislocated
workers improve their skill-sets and return to work. In addition the College has used
WorkKeys and KeyTrain with high school students, Food Stamp Employment and
Training Program participants, and other groups.
The College helped the areas largest employer to write and receive a Workforce
Investment Act Incumbent Worker Grant to provide training for 250+ of their employees
for:
 Conduct WorkKey Job Profiles
 Conduct WorkKeys Assessments of many of their employees
 To pay for College registration fees for KeyTrain classes to remedy gaps in
preparation levels
 To pay for other College and vendor training to retain employees and make them
more productive
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Piedmont Community College KeyTrain Internet Access
www.keytrain.com
The College has purchased KeyTrain Internet access under the College’s site license.
This expands student’s options of using the computer at work, home, library, or any
computer that has Internet Access and meets the system requirements. The following
units of instruction are available through the Internet to employees of PACT members
who enroll in the College’s programs;
 Applied Mathematics
 Applied Technology
 Listening
 Locating Information
 Observation
 Reading for Information
 Teamwork Writing
 Business Writing
The College offers orientation sessions at industries for employees who want to use the
KeyTrain Internet option. Employees are given a contact person in case of questions or
problems with the system. The College is committed to respond to student questions
within one business day. The College tracks student attendance and subject area test
scores. The registration fee for participation in the KeyTrain lab is $60 per student and
gives students unlimited access to KeyTrain for 21-weeks. After 21-weeks, the student
must re-register if they require additional access to training. The Golden Leaf and
Incumbent Worker grant funds can be used to pay the registration fees for participating
company employees.
PACT Activities Completed by May 5th
 Three Leadership Development Training Classes for 74 people
 Three WorkKey Job Profiles for Three Different Industries
 WorkKeys Assessments for 66 people from two industries in the following areas:
Applied Mathematics
Applied Technology
Locating Information
Reading for Information
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