Changing the System

Figure one shows the trend of unemployment rates by month for the United States and South Carolina from January 2003 to December 2007. For the most part, South Carolina's trend follows the nation's though our rates are cleary higher than the national rates. Doom and gloom right? Like our SAT scores.

Figure two breaks down South Carolina's unemployment rate by workforce investment area (WIA). The state is divided in to multiple regions or work force investment areas. Each area contains at least one technical college. State employment statistics are summarized by area.

Figure three shows the unemployment rates of counties within each workforce investment area. Some areas are more disperse while others have less county to county variation.

It is easier said than done but to change these pictures, each area must change their systems for business, government, and education. It is completely analagous to a process capability study. If your process is doing the best it can yet can't meet the requirements of the customer, you have two choices:

1. Accept it and 100% inspect the process' output to protect the customer

2. Change the process-find out what needs to be done to meet the customer's requirements and do what is needed.

Over the past few months, I have witnessed two areas doing something to change their position on the graph:

1. The Southeastern Institute of Manufacturing and Technology in Florence (SiMT) http://www.simt.com/

2. A forthcoming vocational school training facility in Colleton County.

Today, I will write about the former.

I am still in awe of the tour I received at SiMT from Jack Roach, the center's director. The mission of the institute is "to provide customers with strategic training and manufacturing technology solutions that maximize workforce productivity in advanced manufacturing environments." The services offered include:

1. Training in the areas of quality, machining, rapid prototyping, fluid power, robotics, electronics, maintenance, and programmable logic. Training can be conducted on or off site.

2. Manufacturing Technology Services: The institute has "options to assist your company in developing advanced manufacturing processes, automated manufacturing technology, manufacturing simulations, rapid prototyping, and in linking engineering design with manufacturing technology"

3. Manufacturing Startup Assistance: Through the Manufacturing Incubator Center (MIC), qualified startup manufacturers receive assistance in commercializing their ideas. The MIC offers space, infrastructure, and intellectual property to startup companies.

4. Consulting Services: "We can design turnkey systems and processes for virtually every functional area of your business"

When I left, I thought of the movie, Field of Dreams. The main character, played by Kevin Costner, has a vision to build a baseball field in the middle of his farm. A voice tells him that if he built it, people would come. This institute is not noticeable from the road but sits majestically in wide open space behind the campus of Florence Darlington Technical College. When you walk to the building, you are greeted by a enormous projector screen rolling an overview of the institute's services. After hearing the passion in Mr. Roach's voice as he proudly walked from room to room, you conclude that this region must grow around the institute. Its mission is not just to serve the Pee Dee area but to reach out regionally. The potential seems enormous and let's hope this proves to be an example of one area changing its place on the bar graph.