VALDOSTA —
Georgia Tech’s president brought the “Ramblin’ Reck” to Valdosta Wednesday afternoon, as he and his wife toured CJB Industries and spread goodwill throughout the community.
Dr. G.P. Peterson, Georgia Tech president, met with local members of the school’s Advanced Technology Development Center for an up-close look at how the center is making CJB Industries a leaner manufacturing company.
“Contrary to what people think, you don’t make chemicals or cars — you make cash,” said Art Ford, regional manager for Georgia Tech’s ATDC, said of manufacturing. “Lean manufacturing is a way to improve the manufacturing process. You want to try to squeeze down the time between when you receive raw material and when your product is finished and ready to ship.”
Like other ATDC partners around the state, CJB Industries works with local representatives from the center to streamline a business’ operations and facilitate an environment for innovation. With the center for 25 years, Ford oversees collaborative projects with manufacturers from Albany to Douglas.
“I primarily work with manufacturers, helping them become more efficient and aiding them in problem solving,” said Ford. “We work with them on a project-by-project basis. We move on after each project, but we’ll come back if there’s another project.”
This year marks Peterson’s fourth ATDC tour around the state, he told The Times. He said the purpose of the trip was to make the program better and to get the word out about it.
“We’re trying to find out what businesses need from us, besides an educated work force,” said Peterson. “Education is our principal vision, but we do a lot of other things. When we travel the state, we’re trying to figure out what things are good and what things could be improved.”
Peterson compared Georgia Tech’s ATDC program to the University of Georgia’s cooperative extension program, which shares the university’s agricultural research with the state’s farmers and businesses.
“Georgia Tech is a resource for lots of areas in the state,” said Peterson. “If people need the expertise that exists at Georgia Tech, they can call Art and he can hook them up with the folks back at Georgia Tech.”
Peterson met with local representatives and legislators earlier in the day. The group shared lunch with about 48 local Georgia Tech alumni and visited the local Rotary Club.
Founded in 1980, ATDC has helped create millions of dollars in tax revenues by graduating more than 130 companies, which together have raised more than a billion dollars in outside financing, according to the center’s website.
Recently, the center helped Steeda Autosports after the company moved to Valdosta from Florida, according to a release from the ATDC.
Local News
Related Photos
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George Ray | Georgia Tech Georgia Tech President Dr. G.P. Peterson and state Sen. Tim Golden pose with Tech’s Ramblin’ Reck at Valdosta Country Club.
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George Ray | Georgia Tech Georgia Tech President G.P. ‘Bud’ Peterson and First Lady Val Peterson visit with CJB Industries Plant Manager Mike Murphy. The Georgia Tech contingent visited Valdosta to measure the progress of the school’s Advanced Technology Development Center.
Discussion
“Ramblin’ Reck” rolls into Valdosta
Georgia Tech president talks manufacturing development
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