The CME has implemented a  series of academic, training, business assistance, and economic development programs.  Precise program content falls within the broad categories listed below.

Two Year Associates Degree in Manufacturing Sciences

Through the Center for Manufacturing Excellence, Carl Sandburg College has instituted an  Associates Degree program in manufacturing sciences. This program's curriculum is  flexibly developed in conjunction with business advisors to produce graduates who have  the types of knowledge deemed important by local employers and unions. The program is tailored to accommodate students who are currently employed with open entry and exit  characteristics. Teaching staff provide both competent educational  experiences and the applied experiences needed to prepare students for jobs within the  manufacturing community.

Manufacturing Certificate Programs

Through the Center for Manufacturing Excellence, Carl Sandburg College offers certificate programs in selected manufacturing skills areas. Certificate programs in areas such as welding, drafting, electricity, computer-aided design, and machine control will be structured. These  certificate programs accommodate working schedules. Whenever possible the  certificate programs will be designed to satisfy specific core curriculum requirements of the  Associate Degree program so that students can achieve both short term and longer term educational objectives. Business advisors help  establish the certificate content and the standards for satisfactory completion.

Manufacturing Skills Certification

The Center for Manufacturing Excellence works with local manufacturing firms and unions to identify value-added skills testing and certification needs. The Center is able to test potential employees with respect to their levels of proficiency in the selected skill areas. This program can assist local firms to screen employment candidates that  may have work experience but no objective indicator of their level of accomplishment.

Contract Training

The Center for Manufacturing Excellence, in association with CSC's Center for Agriculture,  Business & Industry, offers contract-training services to local firms. Working directly  with a manufacturing firm, the Center designs and provides training regarding particular  technology areas, equipment utilization, quality management programs, risk management  programs, computer programs, and other needs identified in conjunction with manufacturing  firms. The contract training maximizes convenience and value to the  manufacturing firms and their employees. Training is performed at the Center or at the  firm's location depending on logistics. Training is provided by Center staff, special  instructors from the region, or from national service organizations of Original Equipment  Manufacturers, trade associations, other academic institutions, and vendors. The Center seeks strategic alliances with other community colleges to host training programs that the  other institution has pioneered.

Equipment Demonstration Program

The Center is able to establish a demonstration center where students and manufacturing firms have an opportunity to study, learn how to use, and test some of the newer manufacturing  equipment.  This equipment is placed  on consignment or for a finite time period. Industry associations such as the Electric Power  Research Institute (EPRI) may also be able to help secure advanced electro-technologies.  Often various equipment is available to local manufacturers to test whether it works with  their types of operations and materials. The equipment distributors can also provide  technicians and trainers.

Manufacturing Assistance Program

The Center develops strategic alliances with organizations such as NIST's manufacturing  extension program, the Central Illinois Manufacturing Extension Center in Peoria, the  Heartland Technology Network in Iowa, the Rock Island Arsenal, and specialized industry  centers such as EPRI's Center for Material Fabrication. Through these organizations, the  Center provides local manufacturers access to industry experts, technology and process  engineers, business consultants, and other sources of assistance to firms. The Center also partners with local assistance programs such as SCORE and SBA Small Business Development Centers. Through the Center for Manufacturing Excellence, a local manufacturing firm has a one-stop-shop for finding specific productivity, efficiency, safety, environmental,  marketing, business planning, and other skills available at moderate to no cost.

Galesburg Business & Technology Center

The Center for Manufacturing Excellence houses the Galesburg Business & Technology Center (BTC), a business incubator designed to provide manufacturing and office space as well as business start-up assistance.  The BTC is designed to offer business consulting, assistance in financing options, business plan preparation and various other help in getting a small business started.  The BTC is housed in 7,000 square feet of space within the CME. Start-up businesses are able to benefit from all the programs  of the CME as well as the proximity to staff and faculty. Additional information on the services provided can be obtained by calling 309-345-3506 or by accessing the BTC web site at www.galesburgbtc.org. 

Secondary Education Programs

The CME houses a variety of secondary education programs in cooperation with local  school districts.  Vocational programs, school-to-work programs, industrial arts activities  and other programs that need the specialized resources available through the CME are  offered through cooperative agreements between the CME, Carl Sandburg College, and the  secondary educational entities.

Regional Economic Development Programs

The Center for Manufacturing Excellence is a full partner and valuable resource  to economic development organizations in the region. The CME staff and facilities are available to support a variety of economic development program efforts. Contributions to  industry expansion can be accomplished through the many training programs and business  assistance programs at the CME. Support for industry retention can come through the CME's  business problem solving capabilities. Industry attraction is supported through a  variety of programs that can be tailored to training and technology needs of the potential  new companies. Business formation and local job creation is actively enhanced through  the Galesburg Business & Technology Center incubator. The CME Board of Directors constantly reviews the program offerings of the CME to  insure that they are being responsive to the needs of local manufacturing firms.  They consult with the Partnership Council, a group of local business advisors,  to verify the quality and usefulness of the CME programs. The CME is designed to be flexible and responsive to the needs of the local business community. Therefore, the specific program  offerings of the CME are likely to change frequently.