This article appeared in the print edition of the VC Star on Dec. 20, 2020.
In today’s global economy, manufacturers are required to be nimble, technologically advanced and efficient. To accomplish this, the manufacturing industry is becoming a high-tech hub more computer-driven than ever. Instead of being a threat to jobs, however, computers are helping skilled workers increase productivity and companies protect their bottom line.
This evolution to more computer wizardry requires that workers have specialized skill sets. Yes, they still need to understand the process behind transforming raw materials into a product and how to work with their hands. However, now workers also need to understand the complexities of operating a CNC (computer numerical control) machine that enables the user to program the specifics of a part with precision and consistent results.
Digital transformation of the factory floor will accelerate, writes Amar Hanspal in “Five Predictions For The Manufacturing Industry In 2021” on Forbes.com. “The pandemic reminded manufacturers about the fragility of relying on labor, access to physical space, and centralized factories half-way around the world to produce goods. Fortunately, advanced technology — sensors, machine learning, computer vision, robotics, cloud computing, edge computing, and 5G network infrastructure — has proven to increase supply chain resiliency for manufacturers who adopt it.”
It’s an optimal time for students to get jobs in manufacturing, as the country looks to bring jobs back to the United States. While learning on the job may have been sufficient in the past, local employers value the training and streamlined process of having entry-level employees who are well prepared and can jump right in.
This is particularly important in Ventura County, where manufacturing has been identified by the Economic Development Collaborative as one of six key industries.
Prompted by student interest, employer demand and Ventura County’s strength as a manufacturing sector, Ventura College is launching a new advanced manufacturing degree program in the Spring 2021 semester that offers state-of-the-art information and technology in both lecture and laboratory settings.
The program aims to prepare students to be career-ready, as defined by the U.S. Department of Education, by training them on full-size, industry-worthy machines, which mirror the machines used in the workplace. Students who are already in the industry can take classes to expand or update their skills for career advancement.
In the program, students will learn additive manufacturing, laser technology, 3-5 axis CNC milling, CNC Turning, CMM (coordinate-measuring machine) inspection, CAD/CAM (Computer-Aided Design/Computer-Aided Manufacturing) fundamentals and continued use of general manufacturing processes, giving students access to industry-level tools and technologies.
The program also offers a pre-apprenticeship option to give students a head start on their career with real-world experience. Additionally, apprenticeships provide employers an opportunity to find skilled workers, which have been identified as a need locally.
After taking two classes, students who participate in VC’s apprenticeship program can earn approximately $18 an hour. In contrast, the state’s minimum wage is $14 per hour for employers with 26 or more employees. The rate is $13 per hour for companies with 25 or fewer employees, as of January 1, 2021.
For 2 1/2 years, the student will work full time in local industry to receive on-the-job training while taking at least one class per semester at Ventura College.
In just three years, a student will earn a Journeyman Machinist Card from the U.S. Department of Labor, which can transfer anywhere in the U.S. Following program completion, the student may earn $25-$30 per hour.
Students who pursue the degree can seek employment to launch their career or transfer to a university to obtain a bachelor’s degree in management, engineering, industrial technology, agricultural engineering or mechanical engineering. In Ventura County’s manufacturing sector there is a wide range of occupations: “Approximately one-third of employment is production oriented, while another third involves a variety of administrative occupations from accounting and management to logistics and global trade specialists, with the final third of employment engaged in high-end engineering and R&D,” according to the Economic Development Collaborative’s website.
Ventura College will also start offering two certificates of achievement in manufacturing technology, including CNC Machine Operation and CNC Machinist.
“One of the reasons this program is so advantageous is because it trains our local residents to work in an industry where there are high paying jobs in Ventura County,” says John Clark, instructor in the manufacturing technology program. “Our graduates will be able to live here and support their families.”
The first cohort for this program begins in January. To learn more, visit venturacollege.edu/departments/academic/manufacturing-technology.
Kim Hoffmans, R.N., Ed.D, is the president of Ventura College.