US – The collaboration between the vehicle-maker and the state will involve the establishment of a 150,000 sq.ft education and training facility next to Nissan’s vehicle assembly plant in Smyrna. Groundbreaking took place today.
The training centre, which is scheduled to be completed by late 2016, will operate as an extension of the Tennessee College of Applied Technology (TCAT) campus at Murfreesboro. Nissan and Murfreesboro TCAT will occupy the facility jointly. The public-private partnership will provide training programmes for engineering, robotics and manufacturing maintenance.
The hands-on training at the centre will develop a pipeline of skilled workers for Nissan’s manufacturing operations in Tennessee, as well as its many suppliers in the region. In addition to Smyrna, the OEM operates two powertrain assembly plants in Decherd and has its headquarters in Franklin. Smyrna turned out more than 600,000 units last year, comprising six models: the Altima, all-electric Leaf, Maxima, Rogue, Pathfinder and Infiniti QX60.
“Nissan’s success in Tennessee for more than 30 years is due in large part to our ability to recruit and retain a quality workforce of more than 12,000 employees working at the company's operations in Smyrna, Franklin and Decherd,” commented José Muñoz, executive vice-president, Nissan Motor and chairman, Nissan North America. “This new training centre is a key component to the long-term sustainability and continued growth of our business in Tennessee.”
