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| April 10, 2006 |
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Columbus State trains sputtering target machinists When Tosoh SMD, producers of quality sputtering targets for leading semiconductor producers worldwide, experienced a dramatic increase in business and needed to hire more employees to fulfill demand for its product, the company turned to Columbus State’s Business and Industry Services (B&I) to train its own labor pool of machinists.  Charlie Boltwood, far left, and Dick Bickerstaff, far right, congratulate the Winter Quarter graduates of the Machine Trades Certificate program. The newly trained Tosoh machinists are, from left, Jeremy Miller, Christopher Souder, Christopher Holman, Matthew Upchurch, and Alex Zillner. Sputtering is a method of depositing a thin film of material on wafer surfaces. A target of the desired material is bombarded with radio frequency-excited ions which knock atoms from the target; the dislodged target material deposits on the wafer surface. Sputtering is used extensively in the semiconductor industry to deposit thin films of various materials in integrated circuit processing. “Tosoh has used precious metals such as gold and $100,000 worth of platinum to produce these targets, but because this is such an exacting process, if a fingerprint gets on a sputtering target, the company will throw out the target and use the metal for other processes,” says Charlie Boltwood, consultant with B&I.
Boltwood collaborated with Tosoh and Dick Bickerstaff, chair of Engineering, to conduct an analysis of the machinist’s job and develop an employee aptitude test for Tosoh to use in screening applicants. From this, a quarter-long program of study was developed to train and help Tosoh’s new employees succeed. Each quarter, five students go through 350 quarter hours of training in credit and noncredit courses at Columbus State while being paid by Tosoh for 40 hours of work each week. As part of their training, the Tosoh employees take courses in blueprint reading, total quality management, shop math, metrology, and machine tools, and work as a tight-knit group in various lab and special lab exercises. On alternate Fridays, the class works at Tosoh on a quality project. After the quarter of training, each employee earns a Machine Trades Certificate and goes back to Tosoh to work on producing sputtering targets full-time. For the first year of the program, Tosoh has committed to Columbus State to train and hire 20 people. As the program continues, B&I and Tosoh are discussing the renewal of their contract for 10-20 employees next year. “This is an exciting training program and we are helping to fill a need in central Ohio,” says Boltwood. “Tosoh is a terrific partner with Columbus State.” Tosoh SMD, Inc., “The Global Leader in Target Technology,” is a wholly owned subsidiary of Tosoh Corporation, a Japanese diversified international producer of chemicals and high purity materials. Tosoh Corporation produces specialty materials, sputtering targets, silica glass, quartzware products, scientific and diagnostic instrumentation and systems.
Australian/American teleconference one of 12 mini-grant projects funded by Columbus State Development Foundation in 2005/2006 The scene was the culmination of a year-long project coordinated by Communication Skills faculty member Rita Bova, and funded by a “mini-grant” from the Columbus State Development Foundation. The “Aboriginal Author” project, featuring Perth author Lorna Little and Ohio writer Dandi Daley Mackall, allowed children in Ohio and Australia to hear stories about each other’s native cultures on March 21, while also “visiting” with each other via satellite. The children sang songs for each other, then heard each author read her book aloud. “The Legend of Ohio,” by Mackall, is the interpretation of an original oral story of the ancient civilization that lived near the Hocking Hills in Ohio. “The Mark of the Magarl,” by Little, is the story of a young Aborigine boy in the Nyoongar Country in the south west of Western Australia. The entire project was funded with $2,300 from the Foundation’s 2005 Mini-Grant program, and was one of 12 projects funded with up to $5,000. Others included an English- as-a-Second-Language testing project, a GED student enrichment project, an interactive classroom and a Somali Bilingual Book project coordinated by the college’s Language Institute.  Authors Lorna Little and Dandi Daley Mackall answer children's questions via video conference.
Automotive classes looking for customers The Auto 165 class, Electrical and Electronic Diagnosis and Repair, is accepting vehicles with electrical problems. If your car is having starting problems, battery issues, interior or exterior light problems, alternator, or power window, seat, or door lock problems, the Auto 165 class may be able to help. The dates for the class are April 20 and 27. The Auto 175 class, Heating and A/C Diagnosis, is accepting vehicles with heating and A/C problems only. If your car is overheating, has a temperature gauge or a radiator fan that’s not functioning, a heater that’s not getting hot, or a 1996 or newer car that has an A/C system that’s not working or getting cold, the Auto 175 class may be able to help. No radiator leaks, head gasket leaks or cars with R-12 A/C systems will be accepted. Cars with check engine lights will be accepted, but if the check engine light does not lead to a temperature problem, the automotive department will not be able to help. The dates for the class are April 19 and 26. If you are interested in scheduling an appointment for any of the above classes, send an e-mail to dhill@cscc.edu. Be advised, there are a limited amount of spaces available for each of the classes.
Office exercises stretch your quads and lower legs These exercises are a continuing effort brought to you by the Wellness Activities Initiative Committee to help alleviate aches and pains and prevent long-term injuries. To view the video, click here. If you have any questions about the exercises, contact Don Laubenthal at ext. 3627. |
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When Tosoh SMD found there was a lack of trained labor to do this exacting work, they decided to hire not only existing skilled machinists, but individuals who demonstrate an interest in and aptitude for becoming a machinist.