HII’s Ingalls Shipbuilding opens a VR welding lab to enhance shipbuilding skills and workforce development in Mississippi.
Quiver AI Summary
HII's Ingalls Shipbuilding division recently inaugurated a virtual reality (VR) welding lab at its Pascagoula shipyard, collaborating with the U.S. Navy, Accelerate Mississippi, and Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College (MGCCC). This facility aims to enhance the training of welders by integrating VR technology into their certification curriculum, providing immersive hands-on experiences that develop vital shipbuilding skills. Ingalls Vice President Donny Dorsey emphasized the importance of these training programs for building a proficient workforce, while Courtney Taylor from AccelerateMS highlighted the lab as a model for innovative training that meets industry demands. The establishment of the lab aligns with a multi-year contract awarded to Ingalls by the U.S. Navy for the construction of destroyers, which includes funds to support workforce development initiatives.
Potential Positives
- Opening of a virtual reality welding lab demonstrates HII's commitment to innovative training and developing a skilled workforce, aligning with regional workforce and industry needs.
- The new facility enhances HII's ability to train shipbuilders, addressing the growing demand for skilled labor in the shipbuilding industry.
- This initiative is supported by federal and state partnerships, showcasing HII's proactive approach to workforce development and collaboration with local educational institutions like MGCCC.
- The recent multi-year contract from the U.S. Navy for the construction of destroyers includes funds for workforce development, reinforcing HII's long-term growth and capacity in shipbuilding.
Potential Negatives
- While the press release highlights the opening of a new VR welding lab, it may imply a prior inadequacy in training programs, suggesting that previous methods were insufficient to meet industry demands.
- The reliance on virtual reality technology for training can also raise concerns about the effectiveness of such methods compared to traditional hands-on training, potentially leading to questions about the competency of future shipbuilders.
- The formation of partnerships with local and state entities might indicate that HII requires external support to address workforce development needs, which could reflect a lack of internal resources or capabilities.
FAQ
What is the purpose of the new VR welding lab at Ingalls Shipbuilding?
The VR welding lab enhances safety and skill development for welders at Ingalls Shipbuilding.
Who collaborated on the VR welding lab project?
Ingalls Shipbuilding partnered with the U.S. Navy, Accelerate Mississippi, and Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College for this initiative.
How does the VR lab benefit shipbuilding training?
The VR lab provides an immersive, hands-on experience, improving training for both new and current shipbuilders.
What role did MGCCC play in the VR welding lab?
Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College ensured the lab's training programs align with industry needs.
Why is workforce development important for Ingalls Shipbuilding?
Workforce development helps Ingalls build a skilled workforce to meet evolving industry demands and support military contracts.
Disclaimer: This is an AI-generated summary of a press release distributed by GlobeNewswire. The model used to summarize this release may make mistakes. See the full release here.
$HII Insider Trading Activity
$HII insiders have traded $HII stock on the open market 2 times in the past 6 months. Of those trades, 1 have been purchases and 1 have been sales.
Here’s a breakdown of recent trading of $HII stock by insiders over the last 6 months:
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Full Release
PASCAGOULA, Miss., Jan. 30, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- HII’s (NYSE: HII) Ingalls Shipbuilding division along with representatives from the U.S. Navy, Accelerate Mississippi and Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College (MGCCC), celebrated the opening of a virtual reality (VR) welding lab at the shipyard Wednesday. The new facility makes it easier and safer for welders to hone their skills, and enhance HII’s ability to grow the number of proficient shipbuilders with this essential skillset.
“As we develop the shipbuilders who build our nation’s ships, our training programs are a key part of that effort,” Ingalls Shipbuilding Vice President of Operations Donny Dorsey said. “By working with the Navy and our regional workforce partners, we can provide individuals in Mississippi with a more comprehensive approach to mastering a skilled trade in shipbuilding.”
This new facility integrates VR technology into the shipyard’s existing welder certification curriculum, providing new and current Ingalls shipbuilders with an immersive, hands-on experience to develop critical shipbuilding skills.
The establishment of the VR welding lab is part of Ingalls Shipbuilding’s broader workforce development efforts, made possible through federal and state partnerships that are bringing cutting-edge training technology to the shipbuilding industry.
Photos accompanying this release are available at: http://hii.com/news/hiis-ingalls-shipbuilding-opens-new-virtual-reality-welding-lab/ .
“Innovative training programs like this are key to building a highly skilled workforce that meets the evolving needs of industries across Mississippi,” said Courtney Taylor, executive director of AccelerateMS. “By embracing virtual reality technology, Ingalls is not only equipping future shipbuilders with critical skills, but also setting a new benchmark for how industries can leverage technology, local training providers, and state resources to train workers. This partnership highlights the importance of collaboration in strengthening our workforce and helping set the standard for technical training in the region.”
MGCCC has also played a crucial role in the development of the lab, ensuring alignment with industry needs.
“We are proud to partner with Ingalls to provide this new training to their shipbuilders,” said Dr. Mary Graham, president of Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College. “These vital partnerships allow us to offer innovative training solutions that prepare our students for real-world careers. We are proud to work with Ingalls to bring this technology to our community.”
In August 2023, the U.S. Navy awarded Ingalls a multi-year contract for the construction of six Flight III Arleigh Burke -class (DDG 51) destroyers and one option ship, plus options for additional destroyers. This award included funds to support workforce development initiatives, such as virtual learning labs, providing Ingalls shipbuilders with the opportunity to build and deliver Navy destroyers for decades to come.
To learn more about careers or training opportunities at HII’s Ingalls Shipbuilding division, visit https://hii.com/careers/ .
About HII
HII is a global, all-domain defense provider. HII’s mission is to deliver the world’s most powerful ships and all-domain solutions in service of the nation, creating the advantage for our customers to protect peace and freedom around the world.
As the nation’s largest military shipbuilder, and with a more than 135-year history of advancing U.S. national security, HII delivers critical capabilities extending from ships to unmanned systems, cyber, ISR, AI/ML and synthetic training. Headquartered in Virginia, HII’s workforce is 44,000 strong. For more information, visit:
- HII on the web: https://www.HII.com/
- HII on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TeamHII
- HII on X: https://www.twitter.com/WeAreHII
- HII on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/WeAreHII
Contact:
Kimberly K. Aguillard
228-355-5663
[email protected]
A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/02e03286-c28b-4493-9ac0-703e7cd66c68