NEWS - Manufacturing

SBJ Staff Report

Dec 5, 2011 – Great Dane Trailers in Bulloch County and Georgia Quick Start, the nation’s number-one workforce training organization, announced plans last week for preparing the company’s projected 400 new employees.

And the company will hold a Jobs Fair on Dec. 14 to hire new employees.

Great Dane Trailers has built a 450,000-square-foot facility on a 118-acre site in Statesboro after moving out of Chatham County last year. In its first phase, the plant will have the capacity to produce more than 5,000 trailers annually, employing more than 400 people. The company’s manufacturing processes will feature the latest technology in foaming methods and automation of key production operations that make this the most modern, efficient plant in the world.

Quick Start is developing job-specific training on the high-tech processes and equipment in each production area that will include safety, precision measurement, fabrication, robotics, and extensive assembly and welding operations. Leadership skills development, team skills and lean technologies are also covered in the plan.

“We’re proud to help this longtime Georgia company continue to grow and create new jobs in our state,” said Jackie Rohosky, Technical College System of Georgia assistant commissioner for economic development programs and head of Quick Start.

The Quick Start training agreement was developed based on a Project Study that was conducted at Great Dane’s Brazil, Indiana facility. Quick Start will be designing and developing training material, as well as providing instructors, for the classes.

The training program involves three distinct partners: Great Dane Trailers, Ogeechee Technical College and Quick Start. Each partner will be responsible for the successful completion of this program. The partnership will not end when the Quick Start training is completed. Ogeechee Technical College will be available to assist Great Dane Trailers with ongoing training programs.

“We are delighted to have Great Dane in our community, and to be involved with providing the qualified workforce that they will depend on to be successful,” stated Dr. Dawn Cartee, president of Ogeechee Technical College.

Interested applicants should attend the Great Dane Trailers Job Recruitment Fair which will be held at Ogeechee Technical College from 9:00am – 6:00pm on December 14. Applications will be accepted by the Department of Labor representatives at this event and applicants should not apply directly to the company.