WORKERS/STUDENTS
Manufacturing: What's It All About?
From cell phones to toothbrushes—every item you use is a product
of the Manufacturing industry. Manufacturing occupations include
jobs in which you can conceive, design, produce, assemble,
package, sell, install and repair products. Unlike the dark,
dingy factories of the past, today’s Manufacturing jobs are
clean, high-tech, and very rewarding.
Manufacturing processes have become more digitally controlled,
requiring greater skills in high technology. With the increase
in more sophisticated components and widely distributed work
teams, Manufacturing workers are increasingly required to have
more
broad-based skills in personal effectiveness and
communications, project management and a number of other “soft”
team-building skills.
Over the last decade, global product market competition has
rapidly increased, exerting intense pressure on U.S. companies
to remain profitable. Beginning in fall of 2003, the region’s
Manufacturing Employers began taking a leadership role to
revitalize the industry and reposition U.S-manufactured products
as the best in the world.
The Next (New!) Frontier
This exciting crossroads for Manufacturing translates into
tremendous opportunities. Jobs in Manufacturing are about
planning, designing, producing, troubleshooting, solving
problems, and making things work. And, today’s “new”
Manufacturing workers must possess skills to work in and relate
to high performance team-based environments. In addition to
technical skills,
21st Century workers must also hold the vision of how the
entire cycle of business works—not just the production of the
company’s end products—in order to function in future-focused,
superior quality-based manufacturing organizations.
Real Jobs, Real People
The CME, in partnership with Employers and Educators across the
State, is developing a training and certification system to
provide incumbent (current) workers with student-led, self-paced
trainings and learning outcomes validated by Manufacturing
Employers. In addition to outstanding Manufacturing and
Manufacturing Technology courses offered at
partner schools today, the
CME is creating a series of modular online courses in subjects
that provide future-focused training in flexible formats to
match workers’ schedules. The first of these self-guided modules
will be offered in the fall of 2004, with a complete program of
over fifty Manufacturing Curriculum modules soon to follow.
Puget Sound Region Employers are driving this development
process to ensure the alignment of training and education with
jobs requiring the skills taught.
“It’s Not Your Father’s Machine Shop Any More….”
Current Employees’ skills will become obsolete if no retraining
occurs. CME produces programs to help you embrace lifelong
learning and skill enhancement for career progression. By
gaining the skills to be self-managed and empowered to function
in a highly automated environment, and by learning not only
specialized Manufacturing skills, but also the ability to make
decisions in a constantly changing, dynamic workplace, you
position yourself as an invaluable asset.
Let’s talk about how
you can get started!
How Do I Get Started?
Contact the CME or
click the schools below to learn about the finest Manufacturing
certificate and degree programs in Washington State. We’re here
to ensure that you find the education you need and the resources
to help you move ahead in the world. CME will help you customize
your career development plan so that you are on the leading edge
of the new Manufacturing career professions. Resources for Workers/Students
Dream !t Do !t
An economic development effort designed to increase local
training and employment opportunities and broaden awareness of
manufacturing careers.
Manufacturing is Cool
The Society of Manufacturing Engineers offers a Career Information and Opportunities area to
learn about manufacturing (and other) engineering careers,
salary information, accredited schools with manufacturing
engineering/technology programs and interesting articles about
people in engineering careers.
Tech Prep Information
Your high school may offer the opportunity to earn credit toward
a certificate or degree in manufacturing. |
