Employees representing a variety of Arkansas industries participated in a six-week machining boot camp hosted by Arkansas Tech University-Ozark Campus and made possible by a grant from the Gene Haas Foundation.
Boot camp participants learned how to read industry blueprints, use gauging equipment and operate a Haas computer numerically controlled mill and lathe. Shop safety and training on control panels and offsets were also part of the curriculum for the introductory machining program.
“The Gene Hass Foundation is a valued partner in assisting our industry and our students,” said Bruce Sikes, ATU-Ozark chancellor. “It is a pleasure for ATU-Ozark to serve and support our regional manufacturers with this training.”
Tyson Foods, Taber Extrusions, ConAgra Foods, ABB in Ozark and the Don Tyson School of Innovation all sent employees to the boot camp, which was conducted at the Tyson Foods Logan County Career Center in Paris. The program concluded on July 15.
“It was wonderful to be able to use our partnerships with industry and the Haas Foundation to put this boot camp together,” said Justin Smith, chief business and community outreach officer at ATU-Ozark. “We were able to utilize the facility during the summer when other classes are not being taught, as well as the expertise of our full-time machining instructor, Marcus Smith, who does an excellent job teaching high school students throughout the year.”
Learn more about ATU-Ozark Campus at www.atu.edu/ozark.
