Greenville, SC Experiences Automated Manufacturing Growth!
South Carolina Becoming Epicenter of Sector’s Rapid Resurgence
If you think manufacturing is no longer relevant, you probably haven't been to the Greenville/Spartanburg area of South Carolina lately. This small, but mighty state is ground zero for the amazing rebirth of advanced manufacturing in America. According to the South Carolina Manufacturers Alliance, this sector is now the backbone of the state’s economy. The facts are telling:
- More than 5,000 manufacturing operations statewide
- Average salaries nearly $14,000 above state average
- Nearly 21% of state’s entire GDP
- Approximately 12% of the total workforce
And no other part of South Carolina is hotter than the Upstate region, which includes the Greenville/Spartanburg area. On January 26 alone, three major announcements demonstrate the continued sustainability of the manufacturing sector.
According to a news item in GSA Business Report, Response Packaging will expand its operation in Greenville County, investing $5 million in new capital and creating 100 new jobs. In a new 50,000-square-foot facility, the company plans to produce packaging solutions and custom products like shipping racks and bulk containers.
Automotive seating supplier Lear Corp. has announced its own expansion, a $7.7 million extension of its facility in Spartanburg County. Its plans include the purchase on advanced manufacturing equipment to support the launch of automotive seating programs for Volvo Cars' Berkeley County assembly plant, as well as BMW's Spartanburg County assembly plant.
Finally, Oxco, Inc. has announced it will launch a new operation in York County, bringing with it $13 million in new capital investment and 130 new jobs. A light manufacturer and supplier of non-woven materials, the company plans to construct a new 150,000-square-foot facility, expandable up to 200,000 square feet with hiring for the new positions slated to begin in the second quarter of 2018.
“South Carolina is known for its remarkable manufacturing ability,” says Secretary of Commerce Bobby Hitt, “Today’s announcement by Oxco is further proof that this reputation is well-earned, as yet another tremendous company has chosen to call our state home.”
After years of decline, you may wonder what’s making a renaissance such as this possible. It’s all rooted in technology. Two decades ago, cheap overseas labor forced many American companies to leave our shores. Now, advanced manufacturing, automation, and robotics are bringing many of these companies back. While their facilities do not require as many workers as they once did, the people who do work there are among the most highly-skilled you will find.
Moreover, they make a very good living. According to a research by a coalition of manufacturing trade associations, the average entry-level compensation for manufacturing engineers is nearly $60,000. For manufacturing workers overall in the United States, it’s more than $77,000.
However, there is one problem: employers are having a difficult time finding job applicants with the right skill sets. People who work in today’s advanced manufacturing environment need skills in such areas as electronics, mechanical engineering technology, and computer and information science.
While some companies do offer training, most are looking for people who already possess these skills. If you’d like to explore a career in this exciting profession, take a look at ECPI University and its Greenville, South Carolina campus. This is where you can earn one of two degrees designed to meet the needs of advanced manufacturing.
The Electronics Engineering Technology program offers a skills-based curriculum with hands on labs, simulations, and faculty with industry experience. Coursework includes:
- Digital Electronics and Communications
- Data Acquisition and Control Systems
- Computer Hardware and Software
The Mechatronics program incorporates all three components of advanced manufacturing – mechanical engineering technology, electronics, and computer science. Additional coursework focuses on:
- Applied Mechanics
- Hydraulics and Pneumatics
- Materials Science
- Computer Programming Networks
Like all ECPI University programs, we offer these through a year-round, accelerated schedule, which allows you to earn your Bachelor of Science degree in as little as 2.5 years! If you’d like to learn more about these programs and ECPI University’s Greenville campus, take a moment to connect with a helpful admissions advisor. It could be the first step toward and exciting new career.
It could be the Best Decision You Ever Make!
DISCLAIMER – ECPI University makes no claim, warranty, or guarantee as to actual employability or earning potential to current, past or future students or graduates of any educational program we offer. The ECPI University website is published for informational purposes only. Every effort is made to ensure the accuracy of information contained on the ECPI.edu domain; however, no warranty of accuracy is made. No contractual rights, either expressed or implied, are created by its content.
Gainful Employment Information – Electronics Engineering Technology - Bachelor’s
Gainful Employment Information – Mechatronics - Bachelor’s
For more information about ECPI University or any of our programs click here: http://www.ecpi.edu/ or http://ow.ly/Ca1ya.