Quick start [Vol. 11, no. 1 (Winter 2009)]

Technical College System of Georgia Winter 2009 Volume 11, Number 1
Passing the Tests
Quick Start helps global biotech giant Quintiles find local workforce
Balloons and linen tablecloths created a festive atmosphere at the recent grand opening of Quintiles Transnational's new facility in Cobb County. But the real celebration was focused on the 400 jobs being created at the world laboratory headquarters of one of the nation's leading pharmaceutical research companies.
"We've received tremendous support from Georgia and Cobb County to get here," said Dan Brown, vice president and general manager of Quintiles Laboratories North America (the United States/Canada laboratory arm of Quintiles Transnational). "Quick Start is working with us to create a strategic workforce, and we'll need more of their help as we fulfill our commitment to create 400 new jobs. In this beautiful new facility, we have room to grow."
Continued on page 12 Quintiles' Diana Brown processes samples at the company's new world laboratory headquarters in Cobb County, Ga.

Quick Notes

About this issue: "The Future of Manufacturing in Georgia"

`By working together, we can build the workforce and the environment needed for manufacturing to thrive in Georgia.'

In recent months, Georgia legislators serving on the Joint Legislative Panel on the Future of Manufacturing in Georgia have been receiving input from around the state on how the Georgia General Assembly can best protect and promote manufacturing in Georgia. Quick Start applauds these efforts.
Last year, 88 percent of Quick Start's workforce training projects supported manufacturers in our state. Manufacturing is fundamental to a sound economy, and these businesses create real value for citizens, communities and the state as a whole. The panel held its final meeting at Kennesaw State University in December (see photos below), and began the challenge of translating the input they received into concrete legislative recommendations. We at Quick Start are confident that by working together, we can build the workforce and the environment needed for manufacturing to thrive in Georgia.
Jackie Rohosky
Assistant Commissioner Economic Development Programs
jrohosky@georgiaquickstart.org

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Quick Start News g Winter 2009

Pictured above, at the recent meeting on the future of manufacturing in Georgia are, from left: Rep. Greg Morris; Rep. Stacey Abrams; Rep. Bill Hembree; Rep. Sean Jerguson; Rep. Quincy Murphy; GDEcD Commissioner Ken Stewart; Sen. Doug Stoner; Sen. Ed Tarver; Rep. Allen Peake, co-chair; Sen. Tim Golden, co-chair; and Sen. Jeff Mullis. Panel members not pictured are Sen. Chip Rogers, co-chair, and Sen. Chip Pearson.

Table of Contents
14 3 9

Events Around the State
Cypress Cares
New Quick Start course is perfect prescription for healthcare services provider

10 Special Delivery Arrival of Kia cargo showcases state's team spirit and logistics infrastructure

14 The Problem Solvers Quick Start teaches critical thinking, troubleshooting, on one-of-a-kind simulator at the Kia Georgia Training Center
16 Quick Start Project Announcements

Winter 2009 Volume 11, Number 1 Published by Georgia Quick Start www.GeorgiaQuickStart.org Quick Start is a registered service mark of the Technical College System of Georgia Ron Jackson, Commissioner. Please address comments and questions to: Rodger Brown, Director of Strategic Media rbrown@georgiaquickstart.org Georgia Quick Start 75 Fifth St. NW, Suite 400, Atlanta, GA 30308

A Tradition of Transformation
TCSG Commissioner Ron Jackson (pictured, right) delivered the keynote address to members of the Georgia Economic Developers Association (GEDA) in November at the Omni International Hotel in Atlanta. The theme of Jackson's remarks was "A Tradition of Transformation," and he highlighted the significant role Georgia's technical colleges, Quick Start and the TCSG's adult education programs play in responding to changing and challenging economic conditions.
"We are a good news story," Jackson told the GEDA members. "We change lives. We empower people with the skills and the confidence to become full partners in Team Georgia. We provide training services for businesses that they can't get anywhere else."

Events
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Quick Start News g Winter 2009

Gearing Up - Representatives of Kia
supplier Powertech America met recently with Quick Start leader Jackie Rohosky to discuss the company's plan to locate a $150 million transmission facility on the Kia site in West Point. The company expects to create 355 jobs at the 213,000-square-foot plant, and Quick Start will help train the new employees. Pictured are, from left: Powertech America's IL Ju Lee, senior coordinator of human resources/general affairs; Kap Ju Kim, coordinator of production control; Jenny Lee, general affairs; Sang Kil Jung, coordinator of production and quality control; IL Soo Jung, CEO; Rohosky; and Han Joo Kim, COO.
A Tire Power Georgia Governor Sonny Perdue and Pirelli Tire Deputy Chairman
Alberto Pirelli jointly announced a $15 million expansion of Pirelli North America's facility in Rome, Ga., during Perdue's recent trip to Milan, Italy. Quick Start, a longtime Pirelli partner, will train the new employees as the company adds a fifth MIRS (Modular Integrated Robotized System) line. Pictured above: Gov. Sonny Perdue signs Pirelli's Golden Book, which records only distinguished visitors, as Alberto Pirelli, Deputy Chairman, Pirelli & C.SpA, looks on. Pirelli & C.SpA is the parent company of Pirelli Tire.

Events

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Quick Start News g Winter 2009

Fruits of the Loom

When Fenner Dunlop opened a new

facility in Hartwell for the production of

industrial fabrics for its conveyor belt

product lines, the company also donated

a loom like the one pictured above to

Portuguese Company to

training partner Athens Technical College. The company will be hiring about

`Transform' Effingham County

100 employees at the facility, and Athens Tech and Quick Start will use the loom

to train both employees and instruc-

At a groundbreaking ceremony in Rincon, Ga., (pictured above) assem-

tors. Pictured below are, from left: Alex

bled dignitaries and community members applauded as air horns signaled Houston, Fenner Dunlop vice president of

construction crews to begin excavating the foundation for the first U.S.

operations; Dr. Flora Tydings, Athens Tech

facility of Portuguese power transformer manufacturer The EFACEC Group.

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EFACEC USA expects to employ about 700 at the new 470,000-square-

president; and Jeff Lynn, Quick Start director of northern operations.

foot facility. Quick Start and Savannah Technical College will help train

the employees to manufacture several types of power transformers for

major U.S. utility customers including Georgia Power and Florida Power.

The Quick Start training includes job-specific training for the manufacturing

processes, organizational skills, safety, quality control, and cross-cultural

training for effective employee relations.

"Relationships like the one we're celebrating with EFACEC and

Savannah Tech are what Quick Start is about," said Quick Start's Jackie

Rohosky, TCSG assistant commissioner of economic development pro-

grams. "This is the first step in what promises to be a long and rewarding

partnership to bring jobs and technology to Georgia."

Team Players Begun in 1938 in San
Antonio, Texas, Academy Sports + Outdoors has more than 100 stores in the Southeast. Quick Start and Central Georgia Technical College are working with the sporting goods retailer to train employees for the 250 jobs being created at its new distribution center in Jeffersonville, Ga. At left (from left), Dr. Ron Natale, Central Georgia Tech president; Burnie Sloan, Academy Sports + Outdoors director of operations; and
Marla Lowe, Quick Start executive director, make the partnership official.

An aerial view artist's rendering of the new Academy Sports + Outdoors distribution center in Jeffersonville, Ga.

www.GeorgiaQuickStart.org

Rising Suniva
Suniva, a Georgia-born company, is redefining the manufacturing process for silicon solar cells at a new facility in Norcross. Quick Start and Gwinnett Technical College are developing the workforce needed to operate the new, advanced technology.

From left: Jackie Rohosky, TCSG assistant commissioner of economic development programs; John Baumstark, Suniva chairman and CEO; and Sharon Bartels, Gwinnett Technical College president, met recently at the college to formalize a training agreement.
Suniva's innovative ARTisun solar cells were developed by Dr. Ajeet Rohatgi, the company's founder and chief technical officer, through his work at the Georgia Institute of Technology's University Center of Excellence in Photovoltaics. These cells cost less to make than others on the market, and are more efficient at extracting energy from sunlight.
"We're honored to be a part of your operation," said Jackie Rohosky, TCSG assistant commissioner for economic development programs, at recent train-

ing plan signing ceremonies. "Yours is a great Georgia story -- the kind we always want to hear."
"Working with Quick Start has been fantastic," said John Baumstark, Suniva chairman and CEO. "To continue to innovate, we have to have the right people, and we have to train them right. We're thrilled to be working with you to hire the best and train them in the best possible way."

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Masters of Metal

Quick Start News g Winter 2009

Expanding to meet the increased demand from manufacturers of construction machinery, Covington's MISA Metal Fabricating, Inc., recently partnered with Quick Start and DeKalb Technical College to provide the workforce training needed to support the company's growth.
Both new and current employees will be trained on new equipment and new standards and practices which will help the company stay competitive in its industry. The training will include subjects from leadership to welding to CNC.
"What we're doing here will leave a legacy," said J.R. Smith, the company's manufacturing manager, during the ceremonies held to formalize the partnership. "Training and standardized work are very important. We're putting them in place now, and they'll be there going forward. There are lots of opportunities here, and I appreciate the opportunity to work with Quick Start and DeKalb Technical College."
From left: Jeff Lynn, Quick Start director of northern operations;
Hank Makiuchi, MISA Metal Fabricating vice president of operations; and Dr. Robin Hoffman, DeKalb Technical College president, sign a training agreement at the company's Covington facility.

Feathering the Nest
Netherlands-based Meyn is bringing more business to Cherokee County. The
manufacturer of poultry processing equipment is bringing two product lines in from the Netherlands, creating 25 jobs manufacturing the company's poultryprocessing equipment. Quick Start and Appalachian Technical College are assisting the company with this transfer of technology.
Pictured are (from left) Scott Russell, president, and Robert Bertens, vice president
of human resources for Meyn America.

www.GeorgiaQuickStart.org

Events
A Clear Success in Morgan County
Morgan County's SOVIS North America will be creating about 20 jobs as it brings in new state-of-the-art manufacturing technology and equipment to produce a line of glass cooler and freezer doors.
The product line may be new, but the company has a 30-year history of making a variety of tempered bent glass products for customers around the world. And Quick Start has a 10-year history of helping train the
SOVIS employees who have made the Madison operation such a success.
"We didn't even have a building yet when we started working with Quick Start -- this spot was still a cotton field," said Jeff Spotts, vice president of operations for SOVIS North America, at a recent event. "Ten years later, we're expanding, adding this line for building doors. Quick Start did a great job with the training 6 we've had already, and we're looking forward to the big training plan we have coming up." "We're thrilled to be here with you again," said Quick Start head Jackie Rohosky, TCSG assistant commissioner of economic development programs. "We were here at the beginning, and it's been a great project ever since. We're incredibly pleased to be a partner with DeKalb Technical College and SOVIS."

Top photo, from left: Dr. Robin Hoffman, DeKalb Technical College president; Jeff Spotts, SOVIS North America vice president of operations; and Jackie Rohosky, TCSG assistant commissioner of economic development programs. Bottom photo, from left: David Burbach, SOVIS manufacturing manager, demonstrates the company's glass-bending capabilities for Janice Reilly and Jeff Spotts of SOVIS and Quick Start's Jackie Rohosky.

Quick Start News g Winter 2009

From left: Jerry Barrow, Athens Technical College vice president of economic development services, presents Dr. Sherrie Ford, Power Partners owner, with a plaque naming the company one of Athens Tech's 2008 Manufacturers of the Year.

Power Partners Heating Up
Power Partners has manufactured pole-type distribution transformers at its Athens facility for years. Recently, the company diversified its product line and began manufacturing a lightweight, roof-mounted solar water heater.
"Power Partners continues to serve the power industry, but by going green, we're stepping forward and doing something positive to mitigate global environment challenges," said the company's chairman and majority owner, Dr. Sherrie Ford, at an event formalizing a training partnership with Quick Start and Athens Technical College.
"We aspire to be the first mass producer of solar in America," Ford said. "This is an excellent beginning for that."

From left: Todd Wilmot, Pliant Corporation plant manager, and Jon Jaggers, Pliant Corporation operations manager, were among company and community dignitaries attending training plan signing ceremonies held at the Washington-Wilkes Chamber of Commerce.

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Quick Start News g Winter 2009

Quick Start Helps Land Film Production
When Illinois-based Pliant Corporation needed to choose a new location to manufacture two of its product lines, the Pliant division in Washington, Ga., played the Quick Start card in its bid to bring that business to Georgia.
"We presented Quick Start to our leadership team, and they were very impressed," said Todd Wilmot, plant manager. "It built their confidence that we'd be able to make this transfer successfully. We're going to have a very effective program." Pliant Corporation is a leading producer of value-added film and flexible packaging for personal care, medical, food, industrial and agricultural uses and products. In addition to its manufacturing plant in Washington, Ga., Pliant operates manufacturing and research and development facilities around the world. This technology transfer project is the latest in more than a decade of partnership for Pliant, Quick Start and Athens Technical College. "We're glad to work with you and Quick Start," said Dr. Flora Tydings, president of Athens Tech. "They get you started quickly and we're in for the long haul. We're here to fill the positions you need filled and to develop the curricula you need."

We Have Ignition Unipart
Logistics, NA, recently teamed with Quick Start and Atlanta Technical College to train 31 new employees at its new warehouse and distribution center in Union City, which serves area Jaguar dealers and body shops. Pictured above are, from left: Jeff Lynn, Quick Start
director of northern operations, and Phil Herbert, Unipart distribution center manager.
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The First United Ethanol facility in Camilla, Ga.

Above, from left: Dr. Glenn Deibert, Southwest Georgia Technical College president; Murray Campbell, FUEL CEO; Gary Pitts, Southwest Georgia Tech vice president of economic development; and Joe Bailey, Quick Start director of western operations. At right: Gary Pitts speaks to area media about FUEL's potential impact on the region.

FUEL for Thought
What started as an idea at the Mitchell County Development Authority in 2004, became a reality in early October when Southwest Georgia Ethanol, a division of FUEL (First United Ethanol, LLC) carried out its "first grind" of corn at the Southeast's only 100-million-gallon-per-year ethanol facility.
The Camilla, Ga., facility's employees are being trained in technical operations and chemistry fundamentals through a partnership with Quick Start and Southwest Georgia Technical College. At a training plan signing ceremony held while the facility was still under construction, Dr. Glenn Deibert, president of Southwest Georgia Tech, said, "We are very excited about our involvement in this venture with FUEL. This type of industry is just what Quick Start was implemented to enhance."

Events
A Common Thread
What do air filters, automobile headliners, baby diapers, face masks and reinforced concrete all have in common? They all contain products made by FiberVisions, the world's leading manufacturer of polypropylene staple fibers used in these and scores of other products that incorporate nonwoven fibers.
The global company recently awarded an $18 million expansion to its Covington facility, and Quick Start was chosen to develop training for the 40 production,
maintenance and logistics personnel to be hired. DeKalb Technical College will be an ongoing partner with the company to support additional future training needs. Company CEO Stephen Wood said, "In all aspects, training and education is the key to success."
At right, from left: Dr. Robin Hoffman, DeKalb Technical College president; Stephen Wood, FiberVisions CEO; Paul Logue, FiberVisions human resources manager; Scott Powell, FiberVisions plant manager; and Beth Robinette, Quick Start training coordinator, at the company's Covington facility.

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Quick Start News g Winter 2009

From left: Janet Baker, Aflac senior vice

president of corporate learning; Jackie

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Rohosky, TCSG assistant commissioner of economic development programs; and

J. Robert Jones, Columbus Technical Col-

lege president, sign a training agreement

at the company's Columbus facility.

Aflac's Columbus, Ga., headquarters.

Insuring Excellence
Columbus, Ga.-based insurance giant Aflac recently expanded its long relationship with Quick Start and Columbus Technical College when representatives of all three partners met to sign a training plan for employees in Aflac's Customer Service Center and Claims and Policy Service business units.
"There is a founding principle at Aflac that sums up why this initiative is so important, and that is, `If you take care of the people, the people will take care of the business,'" said Janet Baker, Aflac senior vice president, corporate learning. "Thank you for what you've already done, and I'm excited about what we're about to do."
Jackie Rohosky, TCSG assistant commissioner of economic development programs and Quick Start's leader, noted that the original training project with Aflac was one of the first service projects Quick Start undertook, having previously focused on manufacturing. "We're honored to be working with this great company again," she said. "You took us in a totally new direction when this relationship began, and it was the beginning of great things for us all."

Service Industry Sector
At Cypress Care's Duluth, Ga., headquarters, Matthew S. Green practices his recently polished customer support skills.

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Quick Start News g Winter 2009

Cypress Cares

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New Quick Start course is perfect prescription for healthcare services provider
On-site massages and a generous incentive program are just a couple examples that Duluth-based Cypress Care recognizes that taking care of its workforce is the first part of taking care of business.
The seven-year-old healthcare services provider recently partnered with Quick Start to develop customized training designed to enhance their employees' skills and professionalism.
"If our employees are properly trained and feel valued, they're going to provide exceptional customer service to our clients," says Cynthia Gore, Cypress Care vice president of human resources. "In turn, our customers will remain loyal, and revenue opportunities will increase."
After conducting a project study

to analyze Cypress Care's unique business model, the Quick Start team and the company's experts created an innovative course to help the Cypress Care team step up to the next level in professionalism, while maintaining the employee-centered culture that is the company's hallmark.
"We've appreciated Quick Start's flexibility in helping us achieve our goals," Gore adds. "From designing a new course around our needs to helping us design the perfect curriculum for our employees, Quick Start has been there for us."
Since 2006, Cypress Care has taken on two expansions -- both Quick Start projects. The new, custom-designed Business Success Skills class was a centerpiece in both.
"The class focuses on the professionalism required in the workplace in areas like positive image, business ethics and writing

skills," says Nancy Franklin, Quick Start training coordinator. "Participants get a chance to assess their personal image and create their own professional development plan."
In addition to Business Success Skills, Quick Start has provided Cypress Care employees with job-specific skills in customer service, telephone etiquette and managing difficult situations, as well as an orientation to the company and professional development classes in computer skills and leadership.
But of course, at Cypress Care, the acid test is employee reaction to the training. And that's been overwhelmingly positive.
"We've done an employee survey for the past two years," says Gore, "And with the Quick Start program, we're getting feedback that says, `Thank you for the training; the training is great, can we get more of it?'"

Quick Start News g Winter 2009

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Automotive Sector
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Special Delivery

Arrival of Kia cargo showcases state's team spirit and logistics infrastructure
Team Georgia demonstrated its ability to support the most challenging demands of 21st century advanced manufacturing this past October, when numerous state agencies collaborated to help deliver more than 3,500 tons of equipment to the $1 billion Kia Motors Manufacturing Georgia, Inc., facility in West Point, Ga.
The equipment -- which is currently being assembled to make the massive presses used to stamp out parts for Kia's automobiles -- originated in Korea and completed a 15,000-mile journey when it arrived in early October at the Port of Savannah's Ocean Terminal, which is operated by the Georgia Ports Authority. The Georgia Department of Transportation oversaw the transport of more than 100 loads to West Point over the next few weeks, some of which involved special carriers for pieces that weighed more than 125 tons each.

The Georgia Department of Economic Development facilitated coordination of the project, and Georgia Quick Start made sure that KMMG had the training in place to prepare the company's team members to operate the equipment once it is installed and production begins.
"This is a great example of how Georgia's strengths enable our successes in economic development," said Gov. Sonny Perdue. "From our ports to our highways to Quick Start's workforce training, Georgia has all the advantages that global companies look for in a place to create new jobs and new investment."
Kia Motors America/ KMMG CEO and President Byung Mo Ahn joined Perdue and other dignitaries in a ceremony welcoming the arrival of the cargo at the facility. "The arrival of this
equipment is a major milestone in the building of our Georgia plant," said Ahn. "Its safe arrival here today is testimony to the successful partnerships we have developed with Governor Perdue and his entire Georgia team."

Quick Start Robotics Training Readies Kia Team for New Equipment

As Kia's stamping and blanking

presses made their way to West Point,

Ga., Quick Start's team in advanced

manufacturing technologies was

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already in place, developing specialized

training in robotics at the adjacent Kia

Georgia Training Center. The training

covers automotive assembly robot-

ics, robotic welding applications, and control systems.
"The robotics training we're

Kia will use to operate its production equipment," said Vic Desmarais, Quick

Below left: Quick Start trainer Robert Corbin (left) and new Kia team member Guy Hall conduct a hands-on exercise at the Kia Georgia Training

delivering here at the training center simulates the same robotic processes

Start's manager of advanced manufacturing training.

Center, learning robotics operations that will be used on the stamping line at the Kia plant (above).

"While they're trans-

porting and assembling the practice of automation control, robotic

presses, we're preparing the safety, setup and programming, trouble-

team with the skills they'll shooting, and robotic controllers. A

need to operate them,"

software simulator is used to orient

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Desmarais said.

students to 3-D positioning and teach

The robotics lab at the

pendant operation in a safe environment.

Kia Georgia Training Center

Once the students have completed

was specially designed by

the three-week course, team competi-

Quick Start to facilitate

tions are held to let students showcase

effective, hands-on training their skills and enhance their ability

in a broad range of topics,

to work in focused teams, Desmarais

including the theory and

added. n

Quick Start News g Winter 2009

Photos, previous page: Quick Start chronicled the arrival of more than 3,500 tons of equipment destined to make up the stamping press at the Kia facility in West Point, Ga. The largest components weighed more than 125 tons each, and required special transport trucks to carry them from the Port of Savannah

to West Point, where they were welcomed by Gov. Sonny Perdue and Byung Mo Ahn, president and CEO of KMA/KMMG. Inset: Georgia Gov. Sonny Perdue. Below left: One of four "crown assemblies" which will form the top of the stamping press. Below right: The stamping press under construction.

Cover Story

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Crossroads of Global Health
Georgia's prominence as a home for biotechnology and bioscience companies continues to grow. Biotech was targeted as a strategic industry by Gov. Perdue's Commission for a New Georgia in 2005, and since then Georgia has risen to the 10th ranked in the nation for biotech companies doing business in the state. Georgia has also been selected as the 12 site of the 2009 BIO International Convention, the largest global event for the biotechnology industry.
"The selection of Georgia for our world lab headquarters was a competitive process," said Tom Wollman, senior vice president for Quintiles Central Laboratories. "The education, workforce and training programs are all part of the reason we came here. Quick Start has some great things to offer, and we're going to make the most of it."
In addition to the availability of Quick Start's workforce training, the state's logistical infrastructure has proven advantages for biotech companies.
"Positioning a lab has a lot to do with logistics; because specimens are coming in every single day," said Dan Brown, vice president and general manager of Quintiles Laboratories North America. "Quintiles is based in the home of one of Atlanta's major competitors for biotech, the Research Triangle in North Carolina. But, from a laboratory perspective and from a logistical perspective, we're positioned better in Atlanta, the world's leading hub for aircraft travel." n

Passing the Tests
Continued from page 1

Quintiles Transnational is one of the leading Contract Research

Organizations (CRO) in the business. CROs are used by pharmaceuti-

cal companies to perform many of the steps in the development of

new drugs that used to be done in-house. Using CROs allows phar-

maceutical companies to speed up the development of new therapies

and bring them to market faster. Delays in getting a new drug on the

market can sometimes cost a pharmaceutical

company $1 million per day.

A few weeks after the grand opening, Brown

expands on the value of the CRO, citing a Tufts

Drug Development Center study that found, on

average, CROs shorten the drug development

timeline by about a month. At the projected

$1 million per day, that could translate to about

$30 million in savings. Quintiles has played a role in the development
or commercialization of the top 30 best-selling

Quintiles' new Cobb County facility.

pharmaceutical products and nine of the top 10 biotech products

on the market today. The industry giant is based in the Raleigh-

Durham, N.C., "Research Triangle," and has facilities in 57

countries, employing more than 22,000 worldwide. The company

already employs more than 400 in Cobb County, so the opening of

the new building is the first step in doubling its Georgia workforce,

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which will encompass a broad range of job types and skill sets within the strategic biotech industry.
"CROs support many areas of pharmaceutical development -- commercialization, marketing, site setup for drug studies, and actual testing -- so the lab is just one piece of the business," says Brown. "Because of the diversity of different occupations that we

Opposite: Quintiles' Scott Mayorga analyzes a sample from a clinical trial. Above left (from left): Kary Porter, Chattahoochee Technical College acting
president; Dan Brown, Quintiles Laboratories NA vice president/general manager; Jackie Rohosky, TCSG assistant commissioner for economic development programs; and Tom Wollman, Quintiles

have within the building, we have really taken enormous advantage of what Quick Start has to offer us."
During the first half of 2008 alone, Quick Start conducted more

Central Laboratories senior vice president, sign a training agreement. Above right (from left):
Ken Stewart, Georgia Department of Economic Development commissioner, and Dr. Dennis Gillings,

than 64 classes covering 25 subjects in more than 5,000 training hours. "We expect our total training hours to exceed 20,000 in 2009,"

Quintiles Transnational chairman and CEO, at the

grand opening of Quintiles' Cobb County facility.

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Brown adds.

To develop the customized training plan for Quintiles, Quick Start's training professionals performed a thorough needs analysis before selecting the compo-

Quintiles' Salome Penaflorida works in the company's new lab.

Quick Start News g Winter 2009

nents for the company's overall, strategic workforce

solution. The plan featured both technical and non-

technical training, and included medical and

non-medical personnel. Courses were developed for

Quintiles in collaboration skills, leadership, quality,

good lab practices, good manufacturing practices, and

project management, as well as courses specific to

Quintiles' own processes and equipment.

"Quick Start is really supporting us on the

technical training side by developing many of

the training tools that fit right into the guts of

our business and the internal operations of

how we do things," says Brown.

One highlight that stands out for Brown is

a video that was scripted and produced by

Quick Start's media team. Quintiles uses a

complex, proprietary system called QNET,

which is a Web-based data viewing tool for

geographically dispersed testing sites and client

companies. The Quick Start video has become an

essential tool for the company in helping both

employees and clients make maximal use of QNET.

"We've gotten very positive feedback on the video,"

says Brown. "That's been very, very successful for us."

Automotive Sector

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Quick Start News g Winter 2009

All Systems Go
Exercises on the one-of-a-kind FMS 200 involve creating malfunctions that must be evaluated and repaired through collaborative problem solving.
Clockwise from above: 1 Kia team members
behind the scenes communicate with others on the line, processing their teammates' observations using the PLC programming
software. 2 Instructors trigger various
malfunctions at stations on the simulated assembly line, glitches which team members
then assess, diagnose and fix. 3 Stephan
Fetner reports his observations of the body
supply module to team members. 4 Robert
Trammell inspects the operation of the six-axis, Kawasaki robotic arm that simulates the same robotic action that will be used at Kia's facility in West Point, Ga.

The Problem Solvers

Quick Start teaches critical thinking, troubleshooting, on one-of-a-kind simulator at the Kia Georgia Training Center

Anybody who has worked in the real world for any length of time knows one thing is for sure: If something can go wrong, it will go wrong. In the training environment, however, malfunctions aren't the problem. They are to be expected. The real problem is deciding what to do about them when they happen.
Critical thinking and troubleshooting are essential skills in all advanced manufacturing environments. At Kia Motors Manufacturing Georgia, Inc.'s $1 billion automotive assembly facility in West Point, Ga., those skills are even more important due to the level of complexity involved in the integrated, computer-controlled, automated systems being installed there.

So, how do you train people to troubleshoot a complex system that hasn't been built yet?
You ask Quick Start to help. "We knew we had to develop the latest in training for a high-tech operation like Kia, so we were very thoughtful about what equipment to acquire and how best to utilize it," says Vic Desmarais, Quick Start's manager of advanced manufacturing training. "We interviewed experts from around the world." The solution: A fully customized Flexible Manufacturing System (FMS) 200, a modular training system that simulates the control systems that will be at work on Kia's assembly line. "This trainer is the result of a full analysis we did of the train-

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Quick Start News g Winter 2009

`They're training for real life here ... they're getting the best training of any maintenance team working in automotive today, anywhere.'
Randy Jackson, KMMG Director of Human Resources and Administration

ing and technology needs of Kia," Desmarais says. "We toured facilities in Korea and different training facilities around the country to benchmark the level of automation and key skills that would be needed. It was a three-year process from analysis through design and implementation."
The FMS 200 was customized from modular stations built in Spain by SMC Corporation. To build the FMS 200 to simulate Kia's manufacturing processes, Quick Start incorporated a six-axis robot, an Omron vision system, three different communications networks, and two different types of PLCs

(programmable logic controllers). The system fills a room at the
Kia Georgia Training Center where Kia's maintenance team members go through an 80-hour training program to learn how to troubleshoot the robotics, PLCs and communications networks that will control the production of up to 300,000 cars per year at peak capacity.
Training on the FMS 200 involves simulating a host of communications and operations malfunctions. The team members learn how to use critical thinking skills to rapidly isolate, identify and correct the situations, and

keep the billion-dollar plant running smoothly.
"They're training for real life here," says Randy Jackson, director of human resources and administration for KMMG. "These are Kia's top team members with some of the most critical jobs, and they're getting the best training of any maintenance team working in automotive today, anywhere."

Project Announcements

Albany: Miller-Coors is adding 25 jobs in an expansion of its bottling facility.
Athens: Haband is expanding its existing retail call center operation, creating 60 full-time and many part-time positions.
Ball Ground: Meyn America, LLC, is opening a new facility in Ball Ground for the manufacture of poultry-processing equipment, creating 25 jobs.

McDonough: Chemical manufacturer Ecolab is installing automated

Jasper

product filling equipment which will increase productivity and

Ball Ground

reduce waste, helping to preserve 132 Georgia jobs.

Cumming Suwanee

Rockmart

Norcross

Lithia Springs Tucker

Duluth

Newnan: Brown Steel is expanding its facility for fabricating I-beams, handrails, guard rails, and other steel products used in construction, creating 50 jobs.

Ellenwood Conyers Madison Washington

Newnan McDonough

Grovetown

Norcross: Automotive part manufacturer Plastic

Peachtree City

Omnium is adding new paint-line technology

that will help keep 39 jobs in Georgia.

Black Creek: DICON Technologies is hiring 102 at a new facility for manufacturing hydrophilic foam absorbent products.

Brunswick: Rich Products Corporation is creating 27 jobs in an expansion of its bakery for bread dough and sweet goods.

Columbus: Kysor//Warren is expanding, creating 40 jobs for assembly of commercial refrigeration units.

Quitman

Conyers: Solo Cup is creating 34 jobs with the addition of two thermoforming lines to produce clear cups.

Cumming: Trox USA, Inc., a global manufacturer of components for commercial air conditioning and ventilation systems, is creating 50 jobs at a new facility.

Duluth: NCR, a world leader in retail self-checkout and other innovative self-service and assisted business solutions, is expanding, creating 400 new headquarters and related customer support jobs.

Ellenwood: QT Kitchens is creating 250 jobs at a new facility for baking the convenience store chain's line of pastries and sandwiches.

Grovetown: Nutritional Resources, Inc., a producer of dietary food and beverage products, is expanding, creating 15 jobs.

Jasper: CA Cabinets is creating 21 jobs assembling kitchen cabinets that are used in a mix of residential and commercial construction.

Jesup: Sierra Manufacturing is creating 45 jobs at a new facility for manufacturing metal recycling equipment.

Lithia Springs: CONMED Corporation, which manufactures thousands of products to support patient care and surgical needs, is opening a distribution center, creating 60 jobs.

Madison: Glass-door manufacturer SOVIS NA is adding a new product line and state-of-the-art technology, hiring 20.

Swainsboro

Peachtree City: NCR is expanding its

Black Creek

existing Worldwide Customer Service

Savannah division, creating 500 new customer care and learning center jobs.

Jesup

Brunswick

Quitman: Crown Health Care Laundry Services is creating 163 jobs at a new

facility.

Rockmart: Miura Manufacturing of America is building a new facility in Rockmart for welding and assembly of high efficiency boilers and creating 80 jobs.

Rome: Kellogg's Snacks has hired 61 employees for a new Rice Krispies Treats packaging line.

Rome: Tire manufacturer Pirelli NA is adding a fifth Modular Integrated Robotized System (MIRS) production line, creating 15 jobs.

Savannah: DIRTT Environmental Solutions is opening a facility for the manufacture of its pre-engineered wall and flooring system, creating 120 jobs.

Suwanee: Habasit Belting, Inc., is building an addition to a transmission and conveyor belt manufacturing facility, hiring 36.

Swainsboro: Vista Window Company, a manufacturer of vinyl replacement windows, is expanding, creating 90 jobs.

Tucker: ddFoodSolutions is creating 50 jobs at a new facility for the creation of home meal replacements for retail stores and the television show The Biggest Loser.

Valdosta: Smith Drug Company is opening a new pharmaceutical distribution center, creating 33 jobs.

Washington: AFG USA, a manufacturer of fiberglass products, is opening a new facility, creating 25 jobs.

Washington: Pliant Corporation, a leading producer of value-added film and flexible packaging products, is adding two new product lines, resulting in 22 new jobs.

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