A little over two years since its inception, the Computer-Integrated Machining Program at Davidson County Community College in Thomasville, NC, became officially accredited on October 1, 2014. Based on industry-set standards for quality, NIMS Accreditation is the highest benchmark for metalworking training programs in the United States.
By becoming accredited, the staff and faculty at DCCC have met NIMS quality requirements, which include a Self-Evaluation, Faculty Credentials, Student Credentials and an intensive two-day On-Site Evaluation at the college facility.
The On-Site Evaluation was conducted by a three-person NIMS Evaluation Team, which included:
- Certified Evaluation Team Leader: Joan Cook, RICOWI, Inc. (OH)
- Education Representative: David Posey, Randleman High School (NC)
- Industry Representative: Rod Tojdowski, Okuma America (NC).
After a comprehensive facility inspection, observation of active students, plus in-depth interviews with program faculty, administrators and local employers, the Evaluation Team gave the program above-average ratings in the evaluation areas of:
- Program Purpose
- Program Features
- Equipment, Tooling and Measuring Devices
- Program Administration
- Program Faculty
- Advisory Committee.
This accreditation is based on the industry-written and industry-approved Machining Level I Skill Standard, with a focus on four main skills credentials, which many students have already earned. Those skills areas include:
- Job Planning, Benchwork and Layout
- Measurement, Materials and Safety
- Milling I
- Turning Operations: Chucking Skills.
Located in Thomasville, NC, the Computer-Integrated Machining Program was established in Fall 2012 and has capacity to train and certify over one hundred students at a given time. Instruction covers manual machining, CNC programming, set-up, operations and other vital manufacturing skills.
For more information contact:
Catherine Ross
NIMS Director of Accreditation
703-352-4971
cross@nims-skills.org
Kerry Smith, Instructor
Davidson County Community College
336-249-8186 ext. 6431
kerry_smith@davidsonccc.edu