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.