Artistic design of the external view of the new BMW Training Center. (Rendering Little Diversified Architectural Consulting)
BMW Manufacturing employees, along with South Carolina Secretary of Commerce Bobby Hitt, opened the foundation for a new $ 20 million, 67,000 square foot value. training center on the BMW campus in Spartanburg County.
The investment continues the German automaker’s commitment in 2017 to invest $ 200 million over five years in workforce training, company officials said.
BMW maintains a strong manufacturing presence in the United States with its large assembly plant in Spartanburg. The campus is BMW’s largest global plant by volume and builds the line of X-Series SUVs for export worldwide.
When completed in the summer of 2022, the new training facility will have several classrooms for professional development and technical training, an outdoor amphitheater and a unique outdoor meeting and workspace concept that includes wireless capabilities, said officers.
The new training center will replace the current BMW Training and Development Center (TDC) on Brockman-McClimon Road, which has been in operation for more than 27 years.
The teams began construction of the new facility in front of the existing BMW Campus Training Center (CTC). The idea is to connect recruitment, hiring, training and innovation in one place, BMW officials said.
“The most important investment for BMW is our employees. Our associates are the key to BMW’s success,” said Knudt Flor, president and CEO of BMW Manufacturing. “The fast pace of digitization, electrification, artificial intelligence and autonomous driving is transforming the automotive industry. Advancing the skills of our workforce is a priority for BMW. This training center will provide a learning environment that promotes creativity, stimulates innovation and improves technical training skills. “
“We applaud BMW for [its] continued investment in our state’s biggest asset – our workforce, “said Hitt.” Since 1992, BMW has shown [its] unshakable commitment not only to South Carolina, but also to our people. This new training center will ensure that BMW technicians are highly trained and qualified in the latest automotive technologies and are prepared for the jobs of today and tomorrow. “
Christine Petrasch, vice president of human resources at BMW Manufacturing, added: “Our concept of recruitment and training is very exciting and interesting.” We want to create a ‘university campus’ atmosphere around the new building with paths and meeting places. As newly hired associates leave CTC, they see the new training center in front of them and, behind it, the BMW factory where they will work. It will be very inspiring. “
The training center will also house the BMW – BMW Scholars learning program.
“Technical training areas will have a flexible classroom design to adapt to various learning environments,” noted Paul Sinanian, manager of talent management and training. “Training robots identical to those inside the BMW factory will be placed on mobile pallets so that they can be relocated depending on the learning situation. The classrooms will be equipped with the public services and IT network needed to teach robotics, electrical, mechanics, engines and automotive training. “
The automaker’s TDC started as a temporary office space for BMW’s first associates in 1993. The following year, the first production associates used the building to assemble BMW 3 Series vehicles for training. For more than two decades, TDC has been used for technical and professional training.
BMW Manufacturing produces approximately 1,500 vehicles a day from the Spartanburg plant, exporting more than two-thirds of its models to 125 global markets.
The model portfolio includes five best-selling BMW X models, four Motorsport X models and two plug-in hybrid electric X models. The plant has a production capacity of up to 450,000 vehicles and employs more than 11,000 people.
With this massive capacity, the factory requires a highly trained workforce to run smoothly. The new BMW training center will help ensure that employees in Spartanburg have the knowledge they need.