Educational Programs for Manufacturing Careers

Delivered June 30th, 2022. Contributors: Subhodeep M., Denis M., Kevin W., Christopher M., Esther K., Barry and

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Educational Programs for Manufacturing Career: List 1

IntroductionThe requested details regarding 20 active educational programs in Midland, Michigan, that help provide a pathway for people looking to get into manufacturing jobs in the region have been provided in rows 2-21, columns A, B, and D-F of the attached spreadsheet. In absence of sufficient educational programs restricted to the city of Midland, the scope of the research has been expanded to cities in Michigan within a 150-200 mile radius of Midland. Selected findings from the spreadsheet are presented below.
Selected Findings Delta College offers a 2-year associate degree course called 'Manufacturing and Industrial Technology — Associate in Applied Science.' Besides its main campus located in 1961 Delta Rd, University Center, MI 48710, Delta College has branch campuses in Midland, Bay City, and Saginaw.
 Mid Michigan College offers a 2-year associate degree course called 'Advanced Integrated Manufacturing — Management.' The college has campuses in Harrison (located about 46 miles from Midland) and Mt. Pleasant (located about 27 miles from Midland).
In collaboration with Delta College, Saginaw Career Complex offers a certification course in 'Engineering and Advanced Manufacturing.' Saginaw Career Complex is headquartered in Saginaw (located about 26 miles from Midland).
Research StrategyFor providing the requested details regarding 20 active educational programs in Midland, Michigan, that help provide a pathway for people looking to get into manufacturing jobs in the region, we have leveraged the websites of the institutes/organizations offering the programs/courses. In absence of sufficient educational programs restricted to the city of Midland, the scope of the research has been expanded to cities in Michigan within a 150-200 mile radius of Midland. These include institutes/organizations located in Harrison, Mt. Pleasant, Saginaw, Bay City (located about 19 miles from Midland), Plymouth (located about 117 miles from Midland), Kalamazoo (located about 160 miles from Midland), Benton Harbor (located about 189 miles from Midland), and Traverse City (located about 127 miles from Midland). All these institutes/organizations cater to people in Midland looking for manufacturing jobs in the region. While we have mostly focused our research on finding educational programs/courses centered on manufacturing engineering, technology, and management, specific programs on welding, machine tools, mechatronics, and automation/robotics have also been considered since these subjects fall under the aegis of manufacturing engineering and technology.

It should also be noted that in the absence of a specific drop down option for training programs and educational classes that do not belong to any of the categories listed in column E of the spreadsheet, we have considered such programs/classes under 'earn and learn' programs.

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Educational Programs for Manufacturing Career: List 2

IntroductionThe requested details regarding 20 active educational programs in Midland, Michigan, that help provide a pathway for people looking to get into manufacturing jobs, including but not limited to welders, mechanics, tool & die makers, electricians, fabricators etcetera and have been provided in rows 22-41, columns A, B, & D-F of the attached spreadsheet. In absence of sufficient educational programs restricted to the city of Midland, the scope of the research has been expanded to cities in Michigan within a 150-200 mile radius of Midland. Selected findings from the spreadsheet are presented below. 
Summary of FindingsThe selected courses were found to be offered by Midlands Technical College, Lake Michigan College, and Grand Rapids Community College.
 Midlands Technical College: To identify the courses related to manufacturing jobs, the courses classified in the advanced manufacturing and skilled trades under programs and courses on the website. A total of 8 active educational program courses were identified and they included Mechatronics, Computer Numerical Control (CNC), Automotive Technology, Welding Technology, Small Engine Mechanic, Forklift Operator, Industrial Mechanical Maintenance, and MSSC Certified Production Technician. 
 Lake Michigan College: Courses related to manufacturing jobs, the courses classified in the advanced Manufacturing and Skilled Trades under the Manufacturing & Industrial Technology, Manufacturing + Skilled Trades on the website. A total of 6 active educational program courses identified included Manu III: Manufacturing Process I, Industrial Robotics, Intro To Fabrication, Automation For Manufacturing, Automation For Manufacturing, and Ind. Study/Manufacturing,
 Grand Rapids Community College: Identification of the courses related to manufacturing jobs, the courses classified in the advanced Manufacturing and Skilled Trades under Academic pathways on the website. A total of 6 active educational program courses identified included Machine Tool Certificate, Computer Numeric Control (CNC) Programming Certificate, Plastics-Polymer Engineering Technology Certificate, Pre-Engineering Management Technology, A.A., Tooling, and Manufacturing Technology Certificate, as well as Welding Technology, A.A.A.S.
Research StrategyFor providing the requested details regarding 20 active educational programs in Midland, Michigan, that help provide a pathway for people looking to get into manufacturing jobs in the region, we have leveraged the websites of the institutes/organizations offering the programs/courses. In absence of sufficient educational programs restricted to the city of Midland, the scope of the research has been expanded to cities in Michigan within a 150-200 mile radius of Midland. These include institutes/organizations located in Midlands Technical College, Lake Michigan College, and Grand Rapids Community College. These institutes/organizations cater to people in Midlands and Michigan looking for manufacturing jobs in the region. While we have mostly focused our research on finding educational programs/courses centered on manufacturing engineering, technology, and management, specific programs on welding, machine tools, mechatronics, and automation/robotics have also been considered since these subjects fall under the aegis of manufacturing engineering and technology. It should also be noted that in the absence of a specific drop-down option for training programs and educational classes that do not belong to any of the categories listed in column E of the spreadsheet, we have considered such programs/classes under 'earn and learn' programs.

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Educational Programs for Manufacturing Career: Details 1

IntroductionThe requested information has been populated in rows 2-11, columns C, G-N of the attached spreadsheet. We could not retrieve contact persons for Manufacturing Warehouse & Logistics Fast Start, Chemical Process Technology - Advanced Certificate, Chemical Process Operator Fast Start, and Welding Short-Term Training programs, and the cost of Advanced Integrated Manufacturing - Machine Tool (Associate in Applied Science) program. This is because the information is not available publicly. A few selected findings and research strategies have been provided below.
Selected FindingsDelta College's Chemical Process Operator Fast Start program takes 13 weeks to be completed. This training program is run in partnership with business partners and Great Lakes Bay Michigan Works! When local firms indicate they are prepared to hire.
The goal of Mid's welding short-term training is to offer the core skills needed for anyone interested in a career in welding. Entry-level abilities in safety procedures, reading blueprints and welding symbols, and fundamental MIG welding are provided by this 120-hour curriculum. This program combines in-class instruction with practical practice on-the-job.
To attain a Chemical Process Technology - Advanced Certificate, one must have completed a technical associate's, bachelor's or higher degree, military experience, journeyman's card or have more than 8,000 hours of industrial experience.
Research StrategyTo provide the requested information, we leveraged the most reputable sources of information available in the public domain. We commenced our search by combing company websites, using this strategy we obtained significant information relevant to this request. For the information that could not be retrieved from each website, we scoured through news journals, press releases, and social media handles such as Facebook, LinkedIn, etc. However, we could not retrieve some requested information. We have indicated N/A in the individual cells.

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Educational Programs for Manufacturing Career: Details 2

IntroductionWe have provided details for the previously identified programs in Midlands Michigan and the surrounding areas in rows 12-21, columns C, G-N of the attached spreadsheet. Mid Michigan College does not provide tuition costs for each of the programs offered at the college. Therefore, we have provided the general tuition costs as available on the college website. While the college does not stipulate any academic or general requirements to enroll, according to third-party sources such as CollegeSimply, Mid Michigan has an open admission policy, implying that a GED or High School diploma is required for admission. Below are some selected findings and an explanation of our research strategy.
Selected FindingsMid Michigan College Educational ProgramsThe Advanced Integrated Manufacturing - Plastics program offered at Mid Michigan College trains students on how to operate thermoforming equipment by heating plastic sheets and forming them into usable products safely and effectively while producing a wide range of products for retail customers and commercial clients.
According to the college's official website, tuition costs vary by program, but generally, costs are as follows:
In-district students: $142 per contact hour.
Out-district students: $237 per contact hour.
International: $410 per contact hour. 
Jess King is a Lead Instructor at the Mid Michigan College. His phone number is (989) 386-6622 x620 and email address is jking4@midmich.edu. 
Mid Michigan has an open admission policy, implying that a GED or High School diploma is required for admission.
The Advanced Integrated Manufacturing Welding program offered by Mid Michigan College prepares welders for success by allowing them to develop skills and obtain industry certification in welding, by using heat to join metal pieces together and work in a wide range of industries. According to the program description, graduates can then apply the acquired skills to work in industries ranging from car racing to manufacturing. 
Research StrategyTo provide the requested details for the previously identified educational programs, we first searched through the colleges' official websites and the programs' official websites. These sources normally provide such information. Mid Michigan College does not provide tuition costs for each of the programs offered at the college. Therefore, we have provided the general tuition costs as available on the college website. While the college does not stipulate any academic or general requirements to enroll, according to third-party sources such as CollegeSimply, Mid Michigan has an open admission policy, implying that a GED or High School diploma is required for admission. 



Michigan Manufacturing Technology Center does not provide the requirements for people to join their programs but specifies that those interested in the programs should either be in the manufacturing industry or new to the manufacturing industry. 

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Educational Programs for Manufacturing Career: Details 3

IntroductionThe requested details for the previously identified educational programs in Midlands Michigan and the surrounding areas have been provided in Rows 22-31, Columns C, G - N of the attached spreadsheet. Please note that the links previously provided for Lake Michigan College's MANU III: Manufacturing Process I program (Row 30) and the Industrial Robotics program (Row 31) did not lead directly to the named programs, as the links to the course details and schedules required specific log-in details for access. We have therefore provided alternative educational programs and outlined our strategy in the Research Strategy section below. 
Summary of FindingsMidland Technical College's (MTC) Mechatronics Technology program is a two-year associate degree program that prepares students to work in highly automated manufacturing environments. The program reflects the needs of local industries and includes practical lessons on mechanical components, industrial electricity and electronics, programmable logic control (PLC) technology, hydraulics and pneumatics, as well as an introduction to process control. The program allows students to work part-time as they develop diverse skills that enable them to grow professionally in great jobs in the industry. In general, it is appropriate for individuals who like hands-on, technical tasks, and also enjoy troubleshooting. 
The contact person at MTC is Allyson R. Porter, Senior Associate Director, Admissions Department. Her email address is portera@midlandstech.edu 
Lake Michigan College's Machine Tool Technology program leads to a manufacturing production certificate of achievement. Students learn basic and advanced machining skills through theory and practical lessons in the classroom. Those with prior machining experience qualify for advanced standing. Furthermore, any credits that the students earn can be applied towards an associate degree. Successful graduates from the program will be able to obtain work as machinists, machine builders, tool and die makers, CNC operators, and CNC programmers. 
Research Strategy In order to find the requested details for the previously identified educational programs, we looked through the company websites for most of the information. We also looked through reliable third-party sources such as College Board and DegreeMe to find some of the requested tuition costs. Please note that the links previously provided for Lake Michigan College's MANU III: Manufacturing Process I program (Row 30) and the Industrial Robotics program (Row 31) did not lead directly to the named programs, as the links to the course details and schedules required specific log-in details for access. We thereafter searched through the courses listed on the college website but could not find the above-specified programs. As such, we pivoted to replace the programs and ultimately included the college's Machine Tool Technology program and Mechatronics Technology Associate in Applied Science program. These seemed like the closest substitutes to the programs initially indicated in the spreadsheet. 

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Educational Programs for Manufacturing Career: Details 4

IntroductionAs available, information on the listed programs offered by Grand Rapids Community College (GRCC) and Lake Michigan College has been updated in rows 32-42 of the attached spreadsheet.
Selected FindingsPlastics-Polymer Engineering Technology CertificateThrough a combination of lecture and laboratory courses, this program equips and prepares graduates with the entry-level skills required to become employable in the field of injection molding as qualified operators, molding technicians, material handlers, or mold setters.
GRCC didn't provide a breakdown of the cost for each program. Generally, the basic tuition cost for a program with GRCC costs between $117 to $371.
GRCC didn't provide any contact name or details specific to this program. A general contact has been provided as an alternative, which is an Admission Specialist.
The Admission Specialist can be contacted by phone on (616) 234-3300 and by email at enroll@grcc.edu.
The duration for a basic certificate in plastics-polymer engineering technology in GRCC is less than 1 year, with no prerequisite required.
Research StrategyWe relied on information provided on the website of each school for this research. However, there is a limited availability of information from Lake Michigan College. The section of each program on the institution's website does not convey enough information or data about the program. While the school has a catalog for most programs they offer, we couldn't find most of the programs identified from the initial research in the catalog. Furthermore, information on contacts for each program, for both institutions, are not available. As such, we have provided general contact as regards admissions in both schools. Finally, have left cells with unavailable or unconfirmed information blank, such as program length where selecting an option is required.