The mission of Virginia's Manufacturing Innovation Center (VMIC), funded by Virginia's Center for Innovative Technology and sponsored by James Madison University (JMU), is to enhance the capability of Virginia's small-and medium-sized manufacturing firms initially in the Commonwealth of Virginia, then nationally and internationally, to meet the competitive challenges of the future. VMIC helps build strong economic foundations with a high-quality, well-trained workforce, accessible technology and modern business practices, and forward-looking infrastructure, while improving the quality of life and maintaining strong economic development programmes. Key strategic goals of VMIC are providing access to existing and new advanced manufacturing technology and innovative workforce training for Virginia.
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Ibid.
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Examples are: Oracle, a software and computer services provider, which brought 3,100 jobs to Fairfax County; Carter-Wallace, personal care products, 260 jobs; Optical Cable, a fibre-optic cable producer, 200 jobs to Chesterfield County; BBA Friction, automotive parts, 150 jobs to Pulaski county; Hershey Foods, candy producer, 100 jobs to Augusta County in the Shenandoah Valley.
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Such companies include ITT in Roanoke, Nimbus Manufacturing in Ruckersville, Virginia Semiconductor in Fredericksburg, Lockheed-Martin in Manassas, and the Solarex corporate headquarters and manufacturing facility in Frederick, MD.
31.
Blue Ridge Community College, Piedmont Community College, and Dabney Lancaster Community College.
32.
The term ‘cGMP’ refers to ‘current Good Manufacturing Practices,’ the set regulations and guidelines established by the FDA for the design and operation of manufacturing facilities of pharmaceuticals and medical devices.
33.
See, for example, VollmannBerryWhybark, Manufacturing Planning and Control Systems, 4th edition, Irwin, New York, 1997.
