Three IALR Employees Earn Lean Six Sigma Black Belt Certification

Andrew Williams, Process Engineer for the Center for Manufacturing Advancement (CMA), at the Institute for Advanced Learning and Research (IALR), is enhancing his leadership skills through an exclusive Six Course Leadership Training Series. The series, which focuses on equipping manufacturing professionals with the skills to drive growth and innovation, is offered by GENEDGE in partnership with Danville Community College and the Danville Pittsylvania County Chamber of Commerce.

GENEDGE is a leader in improving productivity, growth, and innovation for Virginia’s manufacturing sector. As a Virginia Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP) center, GENEDGE supports businesses with programs designed to deliver scale and competitive advantage.

“I’m looking forward to gaining new leadership tools to help me better support the CMA and our partners in the manufacturing industry. This training will be a great asset in driving our mission forward.” – Andrew Williams, CMA Process Engineer, IALR

Williams’ role at the CMA includes serving as quality manager and supporting engineering, subtractive manufacturing and metrology efforts. His work ensures compliance with ISO 9001:2015, supporting the CMA’s overall excellence. As part of the IALR campus, the CMA empowers industry to integrate emerging technology into their manufacturing processes with a focus on optimization and advancement. The CMA is part of IALR’s Manufacturing Advancement division, which focuses on workforce development and optimization. 

Before joining IALR, Williams was a project engineer at a precision tooling company, managing key accounts and developing tooling designs.

Kevin Thompson, CMA Operations Manager at IALR and Williams’ supervisor, praised Williams’ initiative: “Andrew’s participation in this program highlights his commitment to personal growth and our team’s success. His dedication to continuous improvement is exactly what we need to drive innovation at the CMA.”

Bert Eades, GENEDGE Business Services Director, will teach the six-course series, which will cover essential leadership topics, including communication, coaching, goal setting and conflict resolution. The sessions from September to November are designed to enhance operational efficiency, team dynamics, and leadership within the manufacturing sector.

As Virginia’s hub for high-performance manufacturing optimization and advancement, the CMA at IALR equips manufacturers to be globally competitive. The CMA empowers industry to seamlessly integrate emerging technology into their manufacturing processes, boosting efficiency, effectiveness and profitability while maximizing ROI.