Pepperidge Farm Boosts Maintenance Excellence Through Targeted Training at North Central State College

The Pepperidge Farm plant in Willard, Ohio, is renowned for producing high‑quality cookies and crackers. Its lines are so in demand that flagship products like the Milano cookie run 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

With such relentless production, any downtime on the line can cost the company hundreds of dollars per minute. Reliable maintenance staff are therefore critical to keeping operations smooth and revenue steady.

To ensure its maintenance team remains at the cutting edge of mechanical and electrical upkeep, Pepperidge Farm partners with North Central State College’s Advanced Manufacturing/Integrated Systems Technology (AM/IST) program. The program offers a state‑of‑the‑art, hands‑on laboratory where workers learn to operate, troubleshoot, and maintain the high‑tech equipment that drives modern manufacturing. Curriculum covers integrated systems, pneumatics, programmable logic controllers (PLCs), electronics, mechanical drive systems, fluid power, electrical systems, motor controls, and electro‑fluid power.

“We need the full gamut of mechanical and electrical skills,” says maintenance manager Gary King. “Downtime is very expensive. Being a skilled troubleshooter and being able to react quickly is vital. Identifying a potential issue before it escalates is also essential.”

Previously, Pepperidge Farm relied on an in‑house self‑study program for its mechanics. Performance reviews revealed that while the program conveyed mechanical knowledge, it fell short in delivering the hands‑on expertise required for optimal job performance. The AM/IST labs at NCSC close that gap by providing real‑world instruction.

Every maintenance worker is encouraged to enroll in selected AM/IST courses. Participation is voluntary, but employees who complete training receive incentives and, after one year at a given pay level, qualify for a higher wage tier.

So far, 30 Pepperidge maintenance staff members have completed roughly 50 AM/IST courses at NCSC. Some take only the courses recommended by the plant; others pursue additional training to deepen their skill set. Management actively supports further education for all employees.

“The more knowledge they have, the better off we’re going to be,” King explains.

The Ohio Department of Education echoes this commitment, offering a 50% tuition refund during the first two years and full reimbursement in the third year of training.

King reports a highly positive response from staff: “They prefer the hands‑on approach over the self‑study program. The availability of instructors for questions and the lab’s extended hours make it accessible to all three shifts.”

Pepperidge Farm Retraining at North Central State College

Courses taken:

• Mechanical Drive Systems I & II
• Basic, Intermediate and Advanced
• Pneumatics
• Pneumatic System Construction
• Electronic Sensors
• AC/DC Electricity
• Electric Motor Controls
• Electrical Control Wiring
• Power Distribution
• Mastering Programmable Logic Controllers