![]() rWorkers today are called on to be subject matter experts in what they do. Gone are the days when someone can clock in and do a repetitive skill for hours. Today's workforce demands more: the same worker must now know how to assess, troubleshoot, fix, and communicate in a much more global sense. Work is less silo-ed, more interconnected with other teams. Added requirements are making it difficult for employees to stay ahead of demands, creating a skills gap. How do you train employees for these enhanced skill requirements? Many are turning to Registered Apprenticeships to fill the void. According to Why Apprenticeships are Taking Off, registered apprenticeships, not to be confused with less formal or company-specific apprentice programs, have five defining features:
Apprenticeships allow employers to hire and train workers with the necessary skills, while students can avoid an unnecessary financial burden of student loans. According to the Department of Labor, 87 percent of apprentices are employed after completing apprenticeship programs, with an average starting salary above $50,000. Registered Apprenticeship programs make a lot of sense in both urban and rural settings, and are easier to implement and facilitate than you may realize. In fact, the U.S. Department of Labor offers several registered Apprenticeship programs, backed by curriculum from leaders in education, like Amatrol. Looking to learn more, or get started today? Contact Moss for learning opportunities.
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Moss is proud to offer equipment and curriculum from Amatrol’s Advanced Manufacturing program. Amatrol’s industry leading equipment and curriculum is developed in partnership with industry to deliver job ready, industry relevant skills. Working closely with companies like Caterpillar, Tropicana and many others Amatrol has designed equipment for work place success.
Key Features
Want to ensure you are covering your bases and addressing the skills training most needed in your region? Check out the skills chart, which aligns coursework to job-ready skills: ![]() ITC: Building the Workforce of Tomorrow Today's economy requires workforce members to possess a range of technical skills that can be used in team-based environments, so current students must develop both specialized hands-on skills and essential workplace skills like problem solving, teamwork and effective communication. Amatrol's Integrated Technology Concepts (ITC) program offers technical skills training across a wide range of real-world areas through project-based learning while interweaving essential workplace skills through team-based projects. This combination of skills and knowledge will put students on a path toward exciting career opportunities in areas like supply chain, automated distribution, engineering, medical, and more. Strong STEM Integration Facilitates College Credit, Industrial Certification Prep In addition to essential workplace skills, ITC emphasizes STEM skills. Combining STEM skills with hands-on applications helps to meld theory and practice in student's mind, which will assist them in knowledge retention and building skills for more advanced concepts. This STEM integration allows for many schools to establish transferable college credit hours for ITC courses. Amatrol's ITC proram is also a strong foundation in preparation for several industrial certification. Amatrol partners with organizations including NIMS, MSSC, ITEEA, and more for certifications like MSSC's Certifiied Production Technician and NIMS' Industrial Technology Maintenance certifications. Foundational Systems for Successful Careers The first step of ITC is Amatrol's Enterprise Systems courses, which provides the framework for integrating multiple technical skills successfully using teamwork. Students begin by exploring different technology sectors before studying team concepts, product design, business presentations, internet research, and much more. ITC Quick Facts
Want to learn more about this (or any other Industrial Technology program from Amatrol)? Contact Moss for an in-depth look today. ![]() A recently published article in Manufacturing Business Technology, " Next-Generation Manufacturing: Are You Ready?" addresses the changing face of manufacturing facilities. These cutting-edge facilities embrace information-based approaches to manufacturing, advanced technologies, and a growing number of younger workers. An excerpt: "There is a revolution underway in manufacturing today that is ushering in a new era for the industry. If you take a step inside and look around one of today’s most advanced facilities, you’ll see it’s a far cry from the dark, dirty and dangerous rust-belt dungeons of manufacturing days gone by. Instead, these forward-thinking facilities are clean, bright, efficient workplaces that use some of the most cutting-edge technological advances available — robotics, 3D printing, mobile internet, cloud computing, big data and the Internet of Things (IOT) — to gain an edge in the marketplace with greater efficiencies, increased productivity, and other advantages that equate to a much healthier bottom line." ![]() Universal Laser Systems is known for quality, versatility and reliability. Investing in a premier, cutting edge laser cutting and engraving system is only half the battle - maintaining is a necessary component to ensure your laser is able to provide optimal performance. A robust maintenance program is a huge step toward that objective. Rest assured - maintenance doesn't have to be expensive to be effective. Our partners at Universal Laser Systems has set out to provide a DIY guide to maintaning your laser's performance with a series of tips and suggestions written by their expert support team to help you keep your laser system in tip-top shape. Since fine-tuning is often the key to obtaining the best quality, we want to be sure you have a mixture of the most up-to-date information and fine-tuning suggestions cultivated by our team through collective years of experience. Check out the first installment in this series, which pertains to maintaining optics. Have a question for the ULS service team? Send them to Moss and you may be featured in an upcoming edition! The Great Debate – Additive vs. Subtractive Manufacturing (What Your Students Need to Know!)12/1/2016 Experts are discussing an important shift in manufacturing technology: which is more beneficial, additive or subtractive manufacturing. Let's face it - it's a crowded field, full of technologies and applications. Fictiv discusses the future of production in this blog post, and how people are choosing technology for tomorrow’s industry. In today’s maker-climate, each technology has advantages, and implications for your students.
Additive Manufacturing Additive manufacturing is another term for 3D printing, and can use a variety of materials and printers. 3D printing has always been very useful for rapid prototype development, but it is starting to make its impact on the manufacturing world as well. Materials such as PLA and ABS plastics, as well as composite and metal materials improve printing. 3D printing is used as a step in the design process in companies ranging from Nike to Ford. Designers will print a prototype and use a 3D rendering to test and develop and enhance in a way that drawings can’t duplicate. Prints are faster and cheaper to produce than traditional machine tooling. The precise dimensions (often printed in color) provide a realistic model for designers and engineers to manipulate. Subtractive Manufacturing Subtractive manufacturing is a process by which 3D objects are constructed by successively cutting material away from a solid block of material. Subtractive manufacturing can be done by manually cutting the material but is most typically done with a CNC Machine. One of the advantages of subtractive manufacturing is the variety of materials that can be used, from wood and metal to plastics and acrylics to plasma. (Finer applications such as laser engravers work with an even wider array of materials.) CNC is widely used in manufacturing, and can be found in most facilities. Necessary Skill Set There is ongoing conversation about which method is more prevalent in the future of manufacturing. In reality, both have a place in 21st century manufacturing, which is why your students should be familiar with both technologies. In order for someone to comfortably use either technology, they need a solid understanding of design and CAD (Computer Aided Drafting) programs, as well as a familiarity with engineering principles so they can understand and develop using the best materials for the project. CNC operators should have a mechanical aptitude, and be able to read blueprints and drawings. Learn More You can give students hands on experience with both additive manufacturing (3D printing) and subtractive manufacturing (CNC). Moss partners with the following companies to provide cost-effective classroom solutions:
Whether you are building a Makerspace of Fab Lab, you have undoubtedly considered a CNC Router. CNC technology is a key component of fabrication, but the technology is as diverse as the applications. CNC equipment is designed to route, carve, drill, and engrave in wood, plastic, foam, aluminum and other materials for a wide range of applications.
CNC routers, plasma cutters and laser equipment make it easy and exciting for educators to prepare students for the technical manufacturing jobs of tomorrow. Students understand modern manufacturing challenges, turning design concepts into reality on industry standard equipment. Choosing a CNC Router When choosing a CNC Router, consider the following components:
At Moss, we represent Techno CNC Systems, FANUC, and ez Router – we can provide options based on your program goals and budget considerations. Let us help you develop your FabLab or Makerspace. Tell us – what is the single biggest consideration you have when looking at CNC Routers? When business works with local high school to develop and implement certification programs, the results can have a long term impact on the community: According to the National Association of Manufacturers (NAM), the skill gap for entry level workers in advanced manufacturing is growing at a startling rate. With approximately 30% of jobs requiring technical skills and only 17% of graduates having them, you can see how alarming this trend is. High Schools like Doss High School are looking to reverse this trend by offering students the chance to earn stackable credentials that they can take with them to any job:
These core competencies, taught by Amatrol through the MSSC certification program, helps graduates feel more comfortable and confident in job placements, feel more agile and communicate more effectively. The certifications are stackable credentials recognized by business and industry, and can give students a competitive advantage when applying for manufacturing positions. These programs are specifically designed for High Schools, and can complement core content in science, math, and other areas – which creates a win-win for schools! Learn more: contact an Education Specialist to learn about the certification options available for your high school students. Is your school seeking to attract non-traditional students to STEM-related welding and manufacturing technology programs? Are you struggling to direct students to a skilled trades career path? Here’s a report from The Morning Journal about a recent Careers in STEM event at Lorain County Community College for area high school students presented by the college’s chapter of the Society of Women Engineers. The college used a Lincoln Electric VRTEX® virtual reality welding simulator to engage students and let them try their hand at SMAW welding. LEARN MORE.
Students choose career paths for a variety of reasons. Gender norms are playing less of a factor as students are exposed to technologies (and potential career paths) earlier. What are you doing to encourage students to pursue studies (and careers) in Industrial Technology? We'd love to hear your tips in the comments section! If you have a FANUC CERT program, you already know the benefits of adding robotics to your training programs. With FANUC America's educational products, students can learn to utilize the latest automation technology in robots, CNC, ROBODRILL, and integrated solutions while applying science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) skills. Some of the successful approaches used by educational institutions are:
Are you getting the most out of your robotics program? Maximize your program with one or more of the following tools:
These are just a few of the options available for FANUC CERT training programs. Let us help you customize and enhance your program, while improving student outcomes. Contact Moss today for competitive pricing. |
AuthorYou have questions about STEM education? You're not alone! We're here to share ideas and provide thought-provoking commentary. Let us know your thoughts! Sign Up for Email Updates For Email Marketing you can trust. Categories
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