Spirit AeroSystems, ECU hosting workforce development roundtable
Economic development directors, academic leaders and government representatives from across the state will visit East Carolina University on Friday, Oct. 11, as part of a workforce development roundtable hosted by Spirit AeroSystems Inc. and ECU’s Division of Research, Economic Development and Engagement.
The event is scheduled to begin at 1:30 p.m. at the East Carolina Heart Institute.
Headquartered in Wichita, Kansas, Spirit AeroSystems is one of the world’s largest non-original equipment manufactured designers and manufacturers of aerostructures for commercial and defense aircraft. In addition to its Wichita facilities, Spirit has locations in Tulsa and McAlester, Oklahoma; Kinston, North Carolina; Prestwick, Scotland; Subang, Malaysia; and Saint-Nazaire, France. The company’s core products include fuselages, pylons, nacelles and wing components. Additionally, Spirit provides maintenance, repair and overhaul services.
Spirit’s plant in Kinston, part of the city’s Global TransPark site, manufactures the central section panels and portions of the wing spar for the Airbus A350 XWB. The plant employs nearly 700 people with plans to expand.
One of the challenges facing expansion for North Carolina’s domestic aerospace sector is developing a reliable workforce pipeline, an obstacle that will be examined at the roundtable event.
“As our organization has begun applying research and emerging technologies in designing, fabricating, assembling and integrating components and structures for premier commercial and defense aerospace programs, Spirit AeroSystems has experienced the tight labor market and critical need for both professional and skilled labor firsthand,” said Brian Black, Kinston senior site leader, human resources and environmental health and safety. “We look forward to working with ECU as well as state and local leaders to ensure there is a robust talent pipeline to meet the region’s and Spirit’s growing workforce needs.”
Nearly 70% of Spirit’s careers fall in the sectors of manufacturing and building, including assembly and composite mechanics, materials handling, tooling, and maintenance technicians. ECU wants to assist Spirit and other aerospace manufacturers with closing the skills gap between eastern North Carolina workers and the industry’s most needed positions.
As part of its Rural Prosperity Initiative, ECU pledged to help rejuvenate economic prosperity in eastern North Carolina. Developing a steady influx of graduates from ECU and surrounding community colleges ready to participate in the workforce provides incentive for industry leaders, like Spirit, to call eastern North Carolina home.
ECU has taken steps to enhance the region’s workforce by collaborating with local community colleges to improve student access, providing advanced manufacturing and innovation labs on campus for students, and partnering with industries to offer hands-on internships and capstone projects.
“The biggest concern we hear from our industry partners is the need for a more prepared workforce in eastern North Carolina,” said Jay Golden, ECU vice chancellor for research, economic development and engagement. “We just announced our most productive, and by many measures, most successful year regarding research and innovation in ECU’s history. We’re building applied learning programs and providing opportunities for students to close the skills gap. Discussions like our workforce roundtable help us identify and prioritize the requirements of our industry partners so we can better assist their needs.”
N.C. Rep. Perrin Jones is expected to attend, as well as economic development leaders from Pitt, Lenoir and Craven counties, along with representatives from the offices of U.S. Senators Richard Burr and Thom Tillis and U.S. Representatives G.K. Butterfield and Greg Murphy, and N.C. Sen. Jim Perry. Representatives from several regional community colleges will also be in attendance. Department of Defense representation includes officials from the Air Force, Coast Guard, Marine Corps, Navy, HireMilitary, and the Marine for Life Network.
###
ECU News Services
Howard House, 1001 E. Fifth Street
Greenville, NC 27858
ecunews@ecu.edu
Phone: 252-328-6481
news.ecu.edu
Contact: Keith Wheeler, ECU executive director of national security and industry initiatives, wheelerch18@ecu.edu, 252-737-5569
Matt Smith, university communications, smithmatt17@ecu.edu, 252-737-5423
Event Information
What: Spirit AeroSystems Inc. and East Carolina University Workforce Development Roundtable
When: Friday, Oct. 11, 2019 from 1:30-3 p.m.
Where: East Carolina Heart Institute, 115 Heart Drive, Greenville, N.C. 27834
Why: Spirit AeroSystems Inc. and East Carolina University are convening economic development leaders and government representatives from across the state to discuss aerostructure and advanced manufacturing workforce development opportunities in eastern North Carolina.