Spring 2021 Alabama STRONG Collaborative Internship

Challenge

In Spring 2021, the Alabama Productivity Center (APC) and Shelton State Community College (SSCC) partnered to pilot the Alabama STRONG Internship Program, engaging two students from each institution. The program aimed to provide work-based learning experiences that complemented classroom education while fostering collaboration across institutions and disciplines.

Solution

Two leading automotive suppliers, Samvardhana Motherson Peguform (SMP) and International Automotive Components (IAC), welcomed the interns for continuous improvement projects:

• IAC Group – Jonah Williams (SSCC, Industrial Electronics & Electrical Technology) and Britt Ryan (UA, Mechanical Engineering) focused on improving robot operations on the FlexLine where door panels are produced. After conducting time studies, they identified a bottleneck at the first weld station and reprogrammed welding robots to balance the line.

• SMP Automotive – Jordan Cash (SSCC, Machine Tool Technology) and Spencer Martin (UA, Master’s in Mechanical Engineering) worked in the tooling department. They developed standardized procedures for cleaning and repairing molds, and designed handles, magnetic tooltips, and mill stops through SolidWorks to improve efficiency and safety.

Workforce Impact

This pilot collaboration proved to be a success for all parties:

• Companies gained measurable improvements and expressed strong interest in repeating the program.

• Students applied their skills, gained new experiences, and collaborated across institutions.

• APC & SSCC demonstrated the value of structured, industry-connected internships.

The success of the Alabama STRONG Internship Program has sparked conversations with the Alabama Community College System about expanding this model to other regions.