Goodwin Mobile Lab Hosts Manufacturing Matters
By Dr. Al Pucino, Goodwin College
On February 19, 2019, Goodwin College’s Mobile Manufacturing Lab was host to the Manufacturing Matters monthly podcast, sponsored by Simsbury Bank. During the podcast, the benefits of onsite manufacturing career awareness for middle and high school students, and advanced manufacturing skills training for incumbent workers were discussed. In addition to Dr. Pucino, the panel included Mike Tripp, Manufacturing Manager at The Lee Company; Kathy Daudish, VP Engineering & Operations with Eemax Inc.; and Martin Geitz, CEO & President, Simsbury Bank.
Professor Pucino explained that Goodwin’s Mobile Lab serves a dual purpose: providing students with essential information on opportunities available in manufacturing careers, and bringing advanced manufacturing skills development training to incumbent workers at their workplaces. In the past two years, Goodwin has introduced students to the field of manufacturing in over 80 Connecticut middle and high schools, while providing manufacturing skills development training to over 1,500 employees in 50 Connecticut companies.
Both Ms. Daudish and Mr. Tripp agreed that the instruction their employees received from the Goodwin workshop curriculum has enhanced their manufacturing skills; raised performance levels in their present positions; facilitated employee mobility; and better prepared them for forthcoming advancements in manufacturing processes. As a result of the Mobile Lab Incumbent Worker workshop training experience, both companies intend to deepen their relationship with Goodwin to further assist them in closing the manufacturing skills gap.
The podcast & video can be seen and heard on www.simsburybank.com/manufacturing-matters and www.youtube.com/channel/UCIsCXshDPqozM2AslAnvUaw
For more information on incumbent worker training and the Mobile lab, please visit https://www.goodwin.edu/majors/manufacturing/worker-training.
(Shown in photo above) Dr. Al Pucino, Director Incumbent Worker Training at Goodwin College; Mike Tripp, Manufacturing Manager at The Lee Company; Kathy Daudish, VP Engineering & Operations with Eemax Inc.; and Martin Geitz, CEO & President, Simsbury Bank.
Dr. Al Pucino received his Ph.D. in Materials Science & Engineering at Stony Brook University and subsequently managed materials and processes engineering departments in his career in the aerospace industry. His responsibilities included material design, processing, and analysis. In addition, he served as project leader on several research and development programs. In 2013, Dr. Pucino joined Goodwin College as the Director of the Manufacturing AS and BS degree programs in the Department of Business, Management, and Advanced Manufacturing. He developed the Incumbent Worker Training Program in 2016, and is currently the Program Director and instructor. Dr. Pucino, who has recently been promoted to Associate Professor, is a UTC ACE Associate and holds a Six Sigma Yellow Belt. Dr. Pucino has instructed as an adjunct professor in the Engineering Department at Central Connecticut State University and has provided technical consultation to the United Technologies Research Center. Dr. Pucino has received achievement awards throughout his career, and has published technical papers, patents, as well as has delivered technical presentations at engineering society conferences.
Goodwin University is a nonprofit institution of higher education and is accredited by the New England Commission of Higher Education (NECHE), formerly known as the New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC). Goodwin University was founded in 1999, with the goal of serving a diverse student population with career-focused degree programs that lead to strong employment outcomes.