Spartanburg Community College gets Industry 4.0 grant

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Spartanburg Community College has received a $526,225 grant from the Appalachian Regional Commission for Industry 4.0 curriculum expansion at the Cherokee County campus. The grant will enable students to access cutting-edge integrated systems training in Cherokee County that will prepare them to gain employment in the area's automotive sector, according to a news release.

Sometimes called smart manufacturing that involves state-of-the-art technology, Industry 4.0 is the current trend of automation and data exchange in manufacturing technologies, the release said. Intended to provide training for Spartanburg Community College students on new technology used by the automotive industry, grant funds will purchase an Industry 4.0 system with four modules: distributing, conveyor, joining and sorting, as well as two additional modules. The grant also includes funding for training and certifying seven instructors.

"This is a great opportunity for Spartanburg Community College and for Cherokee County," said Jay Coffer, chairman of the industrial technologies department at the college, in the release. "We estimate that this new equipment will benefit 51 students and 19 workers. That's 70 people who will earn associate degrees or certifications and 70 people with skills employers need."