High-Tech Manufacturing Quick Information Guide
This informational guide was developed for high school career advisors, guidance counselors, instructors and even students about the career paths available in advanced manufacturing. We have included information on: why High-Tech Manufacturing is so important to our economy and workforce samples of some of the career paths available in hightech manufacturing the educational training opportunities available to students (Certificates and Associates of Applied Sciences Degree) highlights of industry sectors resources available to learn more about this field If you have any questions about the information included in this guide or are interested in having the Outreach Coordinator come speak to your students please contact Lizette Acosta at lizette@azhightech.com or (480) 731-8859. You may also visit www.azhightech.com for more information on any of the programs included in this guide.
As a result of this report the Maricopa Community Colleges decided to pursue the High-Tech Workforce Initiative (HTWI) with the support of a grant from the National Science Foundation. The HTWI Initiatives include curriculum reform and outreach to attract students into manufacturing careers. In December of 2005, the Battelle Memorial Institute’s Technology Partnership Practice released a report on the future of the high-technology manufacturing industry in the Greater Phoenix region. Co-sponsored by the Maricopa Community Colleges, the report was designed to identify ways in which high-tech manufacturing jobs can remain and grow in Greater Phoenix. For information on this initiative please visit www.azhightech.com
Why High-Tech Manufacturing? High-Tech Manufacturing also known as Advanced Manufacturing is the manufacture of high-tech equipment such as computers, semiconductors, electronic instruments, and communications equipment. Other manufacturing areas include food, metals, clothing, chemicals, furniture, machinery, and transportation equipment manufacturing. Although the products of these industry sectors might not be high-tech in nature, they can nevertheless be manufactured using high-tech methods and processes. So why exactly is it important to attract students into this field? It has been forecasted that a large number of baby boomers will soon be retiring from the workforce, leaving a huge gap in the manufacturing field. Recruiting talent into advanced manufacturing begins with specialized training and educational training programs. The skill sets required to work in this industry are highly specialized requiring technicians to be competent in the highest technology. The Maricopa Community Colleges and industry partners in the Greater Phoenix area are working aggressively to recruit and attract students into high-tech manufacturing. Students can benefit from a variety of our educational training programs to build the skills they need to get started in a career in advanced manufacturing. The Maricopa Community Colleges Center for Workforce Development is committed to fulfilling the job training needs of the many and diverse employer communities throughout Maricopa County. The Center serves as a hub that connects workforce development programs and resources available through the Maricopa Community Colleges and Skill Centers to employer communities in the Greater Phoenix area. For information on the Center for Workforce Development visit www.maricopa.edu/workforce.
Education Manufacturing Programs at the Maricopa Community Colleges Automation & Robotics
Automated systems are sophisticated, computer-controlled groups of machines and sensors that accomplish tasks without much human intervention. Jobs working with automated systems include operators, technicians, process and industrial engineers. Technicians are especially valuable employees because they understand how all the parts work together and keep the system running. Offered at: Mesa Community College, GateWay Community College, Maricopa Skill Center. Semiconductors, electronics, and aerospace are major industries in the Phoenix area. Other companies design applications for microprocessors such as cell phones, game controllers, and medical devices. People may work as solderers, assemblers, electrical or programming engineers, or as technicians that test the latest designs, install and repair electronic devices in equipment. Offered at: Glendale Community College, Mesa Community College, Maricopa Skill Center.
Electronic Technologies
Industrial Design Technology uses the very latest three-dimensional design software to develop new products, create prototypes and product simulations, and manufacture the finished design. Students will learn competency and technical expertise on industry specific 3D Solid Design software, Computer Aided Manufacturing (CAM) software, 3D printers and Multi-Axis Computer Numerical Control (CNC) controlled machines. The core-specialty of the program is hands-on experience with CAD, CAM, CNC and 3D printing. Offered at: GateWay Community College
Industrial Design Technology
Facility Operations is the science of keeping large industrial buildings operating in optimal conditions. Companies depend on their facility technicians and managers to monitor every aspect of the workplace, from safety, to air temperature and humidity, to environmental compliance. These jobs can be found everywhere from airports, to highly controlled environments producing computer chips to power plants. Offered at: GateWay Community College.
Facility Technologies
Precision Machining
Precision Machining is the process of creating objects out of metal, composites, and plastics. “Precision” means that parts are accurate down to the micrometer –they are very carefully made and inspected. Machinists use the most basic hand tools to the latest in computer operated equipment to make aerospace hardware, medical supplies, and the everyday things around your house. Offered at: Mesa Community College, GateWay Community College, Maricopa Skill Center.
Here is what you can find at the High-Tech Workforce Initiative Website:
tion relating to local and national industry profile, trends, and local wage data.
Program Information: A comprehensive list of the manufacturing programs available at the Maricopa Community Colleges as well as contact information for the faculty that teach the courses.
Student Involvement Opportunities: A list of local and national opportunities available for high school and college students who want to get involved outside of the classroom and want to explore their interest in manufacturing.
Occupational Profiles: Highlight of some of the careers paths in High-Tech Manufacturing. Industry Demographics: Industry informa-
Advisor Contact Info: Who students can contact regarding manufacturing careers and educational programs.
Dream It Do It!
Check out our Website! WWW.AZHIGHTECH.COM The Dream It Do It Campaign is a national campaign initiated by the National Association of Manufacturers to promote manufacturing careers to young people between the ages of 16-26. The Dream It Do it website has a Dream Career Quiz, Dream Career Calculator and video profiles of different career paths for students to explore. Students can also view videos of how products are made.
www.dreamit-doit.com
Building Your Foundation One of the most important factors in pursuing a highly technical career is having the appropriate skill set. Building this foundation can begin as early as elementary school and middle school. Highly technical careers especially in advanced manufacturing require Science, Technology, Engineering and Math. Students can build their foundation by taking courses in math (algebra, trigonometry, measurements and conversions) and science (physics, chemistry, biology). A solid background in these areas is the first step in building a strong skill set. Students also need to be computer savvy and comfortable with technology. Computers are a vital tool in this career field and are a critical tool for most jobs in this industry.
Career Information Highlight of Industry Sectors The manufacturing industry contains 21 separate sub-sectors engaged in the processing and manufacture of food, natural resources, and equipment. One of the most important sectors in manufacturing is Aerospace. Aerospace includes the manufacturing of aircraft, aircraft engines, rockets, missiles, space vehicles, and navigation equipment for both the military and civilian markets. Another sector in manufacturing is Industrial Design. Industrial Design Technicians are a cross between an engineer, trouble shooter, and an artist. An Industrial Design Technician will study both function and form, and the connection between product and the end user. They partner with engineers and marketers, to identify and fulfill needs and expectations of customers that will utilize high-tech designed products to manage and sustain their daily lives. Currently, renewable and sustainable energy has become a hot topic in the manufacturing industry. State-of-the-art sensors and controllers are helping businesses fine-tune their use of electricity, water, and other resources, and highly trained technicians install and operate them, analyzing the results. Technicians and engineers can design, install, program, and monitor vast solar arrays or wind farms feeding their power needs, a must since Arizona plans to get 15% of its power from renewable sources by 2025. The Heating Ventilating Air Conditioning (HVAC) industry is a worldwide enterprise, with career opportunities including operation and maintenance, system design and construction, equipment manufacturing and sales, and in education and research. HVAC systems consist of many mechanical, electrical, and electronic components, such as motors, compressors, pumps, fans, ducts, pipes, thermostats, and switches.
What are Soft Skills? The type of skills you bring to a job in the manufacturing industry is dependent on the type of training you receive and is also varied by the specialty you choose. Many skills can be transferred to other areas however, the skills that are most transferable and highly desired are the soft skills. Soft skills refers to the cluster of personality traits, social graces, personal habits, and optimism that individuals bring to a career. Some of the skills that are essential in working in this type of field are: the ability to work on a team, communication, reading and writing, creativity, problem-solving, flexibility, dependability and eagerness to learn new things. Employers in the manufacturing industry search for a combination of hard and soft skills in employees.
Careers in Advanced Manufacturing Precision Machinist: Set up and operate a variety of machine tools to produce precision parts and instruments. May also fabricate and modify parts to make or repair machine tools or maintain industrial machines, applying knowledge of mechanics, shop mathematics, metal properties, layouts, and machining procedures.
Annual Salary $21,000$50,300
Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technician: Apply electrical and electronic theory and related knowledge, usually under the direction of engineering staff, to design, build, repair, calibrate, and modify electrical components, circuitry, controls, and machinery for evaluation and use by engineering staff in making engineering design decisions.
Annual Salary $27,400 $75,900
Facilities Technician: Facility Technicians follow blueprints or other specifications to install oil, gas, electric, solid-fuel, and multiple-fuel heating systems and air-conditioning systems. Often specialize in either installation or maintenance and repair of heating, air-conditioning, and refrigeration systems, although they are trained to do both.
Annual Salary $20,700 $53,000
Precision Instrument and Equipment Repairers: Repair, and replace a wide range of equipment associated with automated or instrument-controlled manufacturing processes. Determining the problem and how to best approach the solution is key. Repairers may also be responsible for preventive maintenance and calibration, which involves regular lubrication, cleaning, and adjustment of many measuring devices.
Annual Salary $28,600 $84,500
Aerospace Engineering and Operations Technicians: Construct, test, and maintain aircraft and space vehicles. They may calibrate test equipment and determine causes of equipment malfunctions. Using computer and communications systems, aerospace engineering and operations technicians often record and interpret test data.
Annual Salary $38,300 $78,800
Source: Arizona Department of Commerce, Bureau of Labor Statistics, www.careeronestop.org
Projected Growth (2004-2014)
16%
Projected Growth (2004-2014)
14%
Projected Growth (2004-2014)
51%
Projected Growth (2004-2016)
4%
Projected Growth (2004-2016)
10%
Manufacturing in Arizona
Greater Phoenix is among the nation’s fastest-growing regions, where manufacturing is among one of the key industries with sectors including aerospace, high-tech, and communications technology. Did you know that the following manufacturers are here in Greater Phoenix! Intel, the world leader in silicon innovation, develops technologies, products, and initiatives to continually advance how people work and live. Founded in 1968 to build semiconductor memory products, Intel introduced the world's first microprocessor in 1971. The Coca-Cola Company is the world's leading manufacturer, marketer, and distributor of nonalcoholic beverage concentrates and syrups. Over 230 other Company soft-drink brands are manufactured and sold by The Coca-Cola Company and its subsidiaries in nearly 200 countries around the world. Ping is one of the leading manufacturers of golf clubs. The founder of Ping was inspired to design a putter, which made a “pinging” sound when striking a golf ball. Today, PING is synonymous with innovation, quality and service in the world of golf. The Imaginative Child is a leading manufacturer of unique specialty toys. The Imaginative Child creates and manufactures the best play toys available in the marketplace today. Motorola, Inc. has been at the forefront of communication inventions and innovations for nearly 80 years with extraordinary accomplishments along the way - such as making the equipment that carried the first words from the moon and leading the cellular communication revolution with the development of the world’s first handheld portable cellular phone. Auer Precision was at the forefront of the point-of-use diagnostic test strip industry having developed precision specialized tools for the manufacture of glucose sensors for Lifescan, Inc. Ultra-precise tools are required to achieve cut quality, feature size and blood flow for these devices. Honeywell is a diversified technology and manufacturing leader, serving customers worldwide with aerospace products and services; control technologies for buildings, homes and industry; automotive products; turbochargers; and specialty materials.
Resources and Web Links For More Information Arizona Tooling and Machining Association www.arizonatooling.org
National Association of Manufacturers www.nam.org
Association for Manufacturing Technology www.amtonline.org
National Inst. for Women in Trades, Technology, & Science www.iwitts.com
Dream It Do It National Campaign www.dreamit-doit.com
Pathways to Technology www.pathwaystotechnology.org
GetTech www.Gettech.org
Women in Technology www.womenintechnology.org
High-Tech Workforce Initiative www.azhightech.com Manufacturing is Cool www.manufacturingiscool.com Maricopa Community Colleges Center for Workforce Development www.maricopa.edu/workforce
The Maricopa Community Colleges is comprised of ten colleges and two skill centers. Colleges and Skill Centers included are: Chandler-Gilbert, Estrella Mountain, GateWay, Glendale, Maricopa Skill Center, Mesa, Paradise Valley, Phoenix, Scottsdale, South Mountain, and Rio Salado, Southwest Skill Center. www.maricopa.edu
The Maricopa Community College District is an EEO/AA Institution.