Bevill Kicks Off M3 Training

PICKENS, AL - - M3 training at Bevill State Community College appeals to Jack Jones of Aliceville.  “I have been working in the construction industry for over 10 years,” he said. “This training will allow me to not only gain an additional skill set but also the credentials that are so crucial and essential in today’s job market.”

Jones is one of 15 students seeking new beginnings by enrolling in BSCC’s Modern Multi-Skilled Manufacturing (M3) training and credentialing program in Pickens County. The 12-week training class in production manufacturing and basic industrial maintenance began in late December.  Students that complete the program can earn an M3 Production Level I Credential that is recognized regionally as documentation of an individual's skill level in production manufacturing.

The college offers this course for free, at night in Carrollton for individuals looking for work or interested in learning skills for a new job. Students can also practice their skill development online using the Amatrol Anytime Anywhere e-Learning System that supports the training.

Charles Ireland, who coordinates the training for BSCC, has encouraged individuals at all skill levels to attend this class due to the variety of topics covered. The topics covered include safety, communication, computer usage, electrical circuits, measurement tools, pneumatics, hydraulics, automation operations, blueprint reading, and statistical process control in a manufacturing context.

Another advantage of this training, according to Ireland, is Eric Seals, the instructor. Seals is an engineer and field representative for Marathon Equipment Company. His work in business and industry assists in providing the hands-on as well as academic knowledge needed for the students to be successful.

Ireland believes that students who graduate and receive their M3 certification have an advantage over other applicants when searching for a manufacturing job.

“The M3 credential demonstrates to employers that the potential employees have core technical skills and knowledge to perform the job,” he said. “It is a good investment for the company to hire trained and skilled workers upfront. It saves the company time and money on training in the future."

BSCC's offering is made possible by a grant under the Workforce Innovation in Regional Economic Development (WIRED) Initiative as implemented by the U.S. Department of Labor's Employment & Training Administration and the Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs.

Additional training opportunities will be offered throughout Bevill State’s service area in the upcoming months.