Manufacturing Institute likes PMMI Mechatronics Program

"Since work on the Mechatronics Certificate program began, it's been PMMI's hope that curriculum developers and schools around the country would adopt these standards to provide more training for this important career path," says Charles D. Yuska, President and CEO, PMMI. "Being included in the NAM-endorsed SCS goes a long way toward achieving that goal."

The Mechatronics Certificate Program is the result of a partnership between PMMI, the MidAtlantic Mechatronics Advisory Council, and several packaging and technical schools. To date, three programs have been launched: Introduction to Industrial Electricity, Introduction to Mechanical Components, and the newest, launched at Pack Expo Las Vegas this week, introduction to PLCs. Plans are to provide tests in four key areas: mechanical, electrical, controls and computer science.

In 2009, PMMI's skill standards for mechatronics were added to the Competency Model Clearinghouse of the U.S. Department of Labor (US DOL).

"As manufacturing leads the way to economic recovery, now is the time to expand the SCS and the educational pathways to careers in all sectors of our manufacturing economy. And we know automation is the key to driving productivity and quality across all sectors of manufacturing," says Emily Stover DeRocco, president of the Manufacturing Institute. "After careful consideration by the SCS Approval Committee, we were pleased to extend an invitation to PMMI to join the system, with PMMI's Mechatronics Certificate programs."

Mechatronics is the synergistic application of mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, control engineering, and computer science in the manufacturing environment. It is a skill and knowledge set used by mechatronics engineering technicians to assure the automation that drives modern manufacturing delivers its potential for higher productivity and output.

The Manufacturing Institute, an affiliate of NAM, established SCS to develop the nation's science, technology, engineering and Math (STEM)-capable workforce for advanced manufacturing. Among the goals of the partnership with PMMI are:
• To align these nationally portable, industry-recognized credentials with educational curricula and pathways in grades K-12, and in community colleges' and four-year colleges' programs of study, that lead to high-wage, high-growth technical careers;
• To provide information on these educational pathways that leads to advanced manufacturing or automation career pathways to help connect students and workers to lifelong learning and advancement opportunities; and
• To ensure that advanced manufacturing employers and automation professionals recognize the value of these credentials in their recruitment, screening and hiring processes by recognizing, preferring or requiring nationally portable, industry-recognized credentials.

Yuska adds, "I am pleased that the Manufacturing Institute has invited PMMI to be a partner in building the advanced manufacturing workforce and expanding the NAM-Endorsed Maufacturing Skills Certification System, which plays a vital role in the future of manufacturing around the world."

More information about PMMI's Mechatronics Certificates is available at PMMI.org and staff will demonstrate the online programs at the PMMI booth (C-50) at Pack Expo Las Vegas this week.