Textile Insight

VOICES | TEXTILE TECHNOLOGY CENTER Supporting The Future 18 • Textile Insight ~ July/August 2019 textileinsight.com Textile Training Coordinator Suzette McHugh Taylors Programs to Dovetail Industry Needs. he Textile Technology Center (TTC) at Gaston College in Belmont, NC, has been providing a myriad of services to the industry for over 75 years with a guiding mission to strengthen and support textile businesses all along the value chain — from fiber producers, yarn spin- ners, fabric manufacturers, converters, dyers and finished product fabricators to retailers. Recently, in recognition of a rebounding local textile industry, the state of North Carolina granted a Training Initiative Fund designated to develop and enhance technical textile training in the textile field. The recurring grant, now slated for its fifth year, has been put to work by the Textile Center, as fund administra- tor, creating new initiatives and expanding programs that address the need for skilled labor, technical proficiency, and knowledge-building around today's business opportuni- ties through training sessions and educational outreach. Suzette McHugh has been leading these efforts in her role as Textile Training Coordinator at the Center. What started as blank slate four years ago has evolved into comprehensive curriculum. "There are lots of training conversations going on these days," says McHugh, who joined the center in 2009 having forged a textile career over the years starting with JP Stevens (New York City) Woolen and Worsted Division as a Fabric Stylist, and subsequent positions with Celanese and then Hoechst Celanese, Kosa and Invista in various technical and marketing capacities for polyester fibers, yarns and fabrics. Here, we talk with McHugh about the program and the specific ways the Textile Technology Center is support- ing the current training needs being identified within the textile industry. How did the training initiative take shape? "We canvassed a number of North Carolina clients rep- resenting all different segments of the value chain. And what came out of that effort was a need to fill three distinct buckets: 1) A need for more technical training via seminars and knowledge building classes; 2) A need for supporting equipment vendors to come to textile facilities and offer onsite training; and 3) A need for educational outreach to inform high school students that textiles were coming back, and that it is a viable career path they should consider." Please elaborate on the technical training aspect. "We have developed a number of courses, in conjunction with industry consultants who come to the Center and offer a one or two day seminar on a given subject a couple times a year. We do about seven to eight seminars a year. Sessions are open to all textile industry personnel, with NC textile staff being offered free or reduced training fees, courtesy of the Training Initiative Fund. We try to offer training on a wide variety of subjects, from yarn spinning techniques to test data interpretation. Currently we are getting ready to offer a new Mill Management class that talks about the economics of the mill. We have recurring subjects but also add new technical topics as well every year." How has attendance been? "I just did the numbers in the last calendar year – July 2018 to June 30, 2019 – and we've had about 500 people attend our seminars, representing over 46 North Carolina companies, plus numerous staff from out of state." Let's talk about the needs of the equipment vendors, and how things have changed in that business sector. "I was reminiscing recently about when I started in this busi- ness and how the large companies had huge showrooms with state of the art equipment and would offer training onsite. Every month there was a training class. Those days are gone. Now it is incumbent upon the vendors to go to the individual mill site, and provide training. And that's often difficult for textile companies to afford. We have some equipment vendors with the additional resources they can allocate to go to client sites and provide hands on training with individual company employees and we help subsidize the training charges." How is the Center engaging with young people? "We offer high school students the opportunity to attend a mini-class on textiles and fiber to yarn to fabric processing. We provide tours of the Center and educate students on career opportunities. We stress all the different options that exist within today's textile industry. We also host an educational open house, which is great for the companies that come to meet with students to discuss job options and company product lines." What has the feedback from students been like? "The students say they didn't realize how many products incorporate textiles. It's not just apparel. For example, we explain how textiles are used as components in wind turbine blades; products for water filtration; products for automo- tive field — tires, upholstery, etc. We also talk about Smart Textiles and the overlap with Wearable Tech. Students are so digitally and electronically 'wired'these days, that this is an area that piques their interest." Looking back on the past four years of training develop- ment, what is your top takeaway? "We try to keep pace with where technology is going and how we can offer training programs that dovetail with cus- tomer needs. As the industry rebounds and strengthens, the need for training (basic and advanced) continues to increase and this funding and the programs offered fill these ongoing needs." l T "We stretch the grant money as far as we can and are very grateful that the State continues the funding. It's a win-win for everybody." Suzette McHugh, TTC

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