BioWork
BioWork is a training course that will prepare you for employment as
a process technician for a bioprocess, pharmaceutical or chemical
manufacturing company. Process technicians run the manufacturing
process in these industries. For this reason, competent and skilled
process technicians are valued and in demand.
Even though bioprocess, pharmaceutical and chemical manufacturing
companies make a vast array of products using a variety of methods,
manufacturing technicians in all of these companies need a common
foundation of knowledge and skill. The units in BioWork provide you
with the basics of science and technology used by these companies
and form the foundation you need to learn quickly on the job.
After nearly two decades of research and development, Bioprocess
Technology is yielding new medicines, vaccines, amino acids,
veterinary medicines and related products that improve our lives and
boost our economy. As a graduate, you will be in a good position to
enjoy the unique opportunities and benefits that bioprocess,
pharmaceutical and chemical manufacturing offer. Ultimately, the
quality of the product a company manufactures will depend on your
skill, knowledge, and work habits. The manufacturing process
literally will be in your hands! Examples of products made by
bioprocess technicians:
- Antibiotics
- Asthma inhalers
- Bleach
- Corn syrup
- Cosmetics
- Deodorant
- Detergents
- Fabric softeners
- Heartburn pills
- Ink
- Paint
- Plastics
- Post-It-Notes®
- Shampoo
- Silly Putty®
- Soap
- Soft drinks
- Vaccines
- Vitamins
Thousands of North Carolinians work in bioprocess, pharmaceutical
and chemical manufacturing, and thousands more will be needed in the
coming years. Job growth will accelerate as more products move from
research to development. With this rise in Bioprocess Technology,
North Carolina’s biomanufacturing industry is projected to
experience tremendous growth in the coming years.
BioWork is a rigorous 16-week, 128-hour training course consisting
of the following topics:
Unit 1: Your New Job (12 hours)
This unit exposes students to the rewards and realities of working
as a process technician and includes two visits to process
manufacturing facilities, where students can observe process
technicians in an actual working environment. Students will also
discuss typical job duties, salary potential, and employer
expectations for process technicians.
Unit 2: Working Safely (4 hours)
This unit teaches the importance of safety and safety awareness. The
unit is not intended as a comprehensive treatment of safety but
provides a helpful foundation for the more specific safety training
that is provided by employers.
Unit 3: Building Quality into the Product (12 hours)
This unit looks at the foundations of various quality systems common
in process manufacturing such as ISO and GMP. Unit activities help
students understand how conscientious employees achieve quality
goals during every phase of production. The emphasis is on GMP as an
example of a comprehensive quality system.
Unit 4: Measuring Process Variables (16 hours)
This unit teaches students how to make measurements using the metric
system and how to convert between the English and metric systems.
Students also learn about basic types of measurement including
linear, volumetric, mass, temperature, pressure, flow, and level.
During the unit, students practice selecting and using appropriate
measurement instruments, applying basic measurement skills, and
properly recording measurement data. Basic physics concepts related
to pressure are included.
Unit 5: Transforming Matter (20 hours)
This unit introduces students to the chemistry that is the
foundation for much of process manufacturing. Students learn the
basics of elements, chemical compounds, and chemical reactions.
Working in a laboratory, they learn to use a pH meter, make
solutions, follow chemical safety guidelines, and practice reading
and using MSDSs.
Unit 6: Learning the Nuts and Bolts (20 hours)
This unit describes process technology, process equipment, and plant
utilities. Students learn how to read simple process flow diagrams
and P&IDs and how to view manufacturing processes as integrated
systems.
Unit 7: Controlling the Process (8 hours)
This unit describes how processes are controlled to achieve
consistent product results. Principles of basic feedback control are
described, together with the equipment elements involved.
Unit 8: Maintaining Sterile Processes (16 hours)
This unit introduces bacteria, fungi, and viruses and explains why
and how they are controlled during industrial processes. Students
practice procedures for sterilizing liquids, using disinfectants,
completing sterile transfers, and gowning. Students learn about
their responsibilities in preventing contamination on the job.
Unit 9: Growing Living Cells (16 hours)
This unit is specific to bioprocessing and introduces students to
fermentation and downstream processing. Students learn to make media
and grow cells. The unit includes basic elements of bioreactor
structure and process variables monitored during growth.
The remaining four hours of the course is used to administer the
unit exam for unit 9, Growing Living Cells.
For more information, please contact Toby Mapes at (828) 254-1921,
ext. 5841 or tmapes@abtech.edu.
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