Computer Integrated Machining Diploma ’18

Qwatrail Weeks enrolled in the Computer Integrated Machining program at College of The Albemarle (COA) in the fall of 2017. She had the desire to try a new career path where she could use her hands and Machining seemed to be a good fit for her. “I wanted to try something different,” Weeks explained when asked what appealed to her about the program at COA. Weeks attended a manufacturing event at COA and ended up registering for the Machining program that very day.

Weeks received her certificate in Computer Integrated Machining in December 2017 and her diploma in Computer Integrated Machining in July 2018, finishing up her education in less than a year. She was hired at Sumitomo Drive Technologies in September 2018, beginning as a machinist apprentice. Less than four months later, in January of this year, Weeks was moved to train on the Ring Gear Housing (RGH) production. She presently runs two milling machines and two gear shaper machines.

While the Computer Integrated Machining program at COA has had female students in the past, Weeks is the most recent female graduate of the program. Instructor/Program Coordinator of the Computer Integrated Machining program, David Chambers, shared that Weeks’s attention to detail is unrivaled. “I’ve never met someone with the work ethic Qwatrail has,” Chambers said. “She will work on something until she gets it; her work is second to none.”