PITTSBURGH TECHNICAL COLLEGE’S NEWEST ROBOTICS CERTIFICATION STRENGTHENS OFFERING, DISTINGUISHES SCHOOL AS TOP PRODUCER FOR REGIONAL WORKFORCE PIPELINE
OAKDALE, Pa., December 21, 2023 – Pittsburgh Technical College (PTC) today announced that Charles Shaw, PTC Electronics Instructor, recently obtained an NC3 Festo Certification, a highly sought-after robotics certification that incorporates hands-on learning to a school’s standard curriculum.
This new certification gives PTC students the unique opportunity to become trained in the safety and operational skills of state-of-the-art industry equipment, while receiving company certifications. PTC can offer corporate training to companies using this cutting-edge equipment, easing the burden of logistics and resources to the local industry. These unique skills will support their job search and placement as they enter the regional workforce.
PTC’s Electronics Engineering Program was also recently endorsed by the Advanced Robotics for Manufacturing (ARM) Institute — the leading collaborative in robotics and workforce innovation in the U.S. — as one of the most effective training programs in the nation. Select organizations are recognized for their use of the most effective methods to prepare students for robotics careers in manufacturing.
“These designations underscore the success of our methods,” said Dr. Alicia Harvey-Smith, president of PTC. “Companies tell us exactly what they want our students to know, so they are trained according to the most recent industry standards. There’s never a time when they’re learning something they won’t need.”
The NC3 Festo Certification is required to operate Universal Robots’ cobot, a collaborative robotic arm that is widely used across the robotics industry. Known for its various attachments that allow it to weld, drill, solder, and screw, this advanced robot provides students with hands-on corporate training and company certifications in maintenance, safety, and operations.
“The cobot arm will help to further distinguish PTC’s robotics program,” said Shaw. “Students who are trained to operate this arm will be highly sought-after by robotics companies, helping to fill the regional workforce pipeline.”
To obtain a cobot arm and begin training students, PTC is actively seeking funding from grants and donors.
Jay Glaus, PTC’s Computer-Aided Design (CAD) and Robotics Technician and Robotics Program Coordinator, established the College’s robotics program last year in response to Pittsburgh’s growing industry demand. Relative to similar metropolitan areas,
Southwest Pennsylvania has triple the U.S. demand1 for robotics technicians, with the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projecting a 10% increase in STEM employment by 2032.2
“Robotics companies need more and more skilled workers, and our program is a key contributor to the demands in our region,” said Glaus. “Many of our industry contacts tell us they prefer PTC graduates due to our unique applied learning and hands-on approach, which reduces the time spent with on-the-job training.”
State-of-the-Art Technology Enhances PTC Robotics Offerings
True to its vision statement, PTC has made technology a top priority by delivering innovative, cutting-edge education that drives student success and supports the economy:
- The robotics program is transforming the CAD lab into a smart lab, individualizing networks for printing and automating the lab’s lighting. It will soon operate a WAZER water jet, a high-velocity jet powerful enough to cut through metal. Students in the Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning (HVAC) department are helping with plumbing and installation to gain additional real-world experience.
- The CAD lab has 10 3D printers, including the fastest on the market, to train students to operate the latest industry technology. With the potential to print production-grade parts, more and more global businesses are integrating 3D printing into their manufacturing operations.3 As Pittsburgh continues to grow its additive manufacturing market to increase supply chain reliability,4 there is a greater need for advanced talent. 5
- PTC also recently created a metal fabrication (FAB) lab and obtained a forge on campus so students can mock up and weld their designs. The College also upgraded to state-of-the-art programmable logic controllers (PLCs) to give students in electrician, electronic, and robotic programs exposure to the same devices they’ll see in the industry.
External Partnerships Strengthen Resources, Help Fill Workforce Pipeline
The robotics program partners with several leading companies in the industry to align its curriculum with current market demand. PTC’s new robotics advisory board consists of Intel, Humotech, Toro, Aurora, and most recently Omnicell and Astrobotic. PTC continues to receive requests of interest from additional companies to join the advisory board and partner with the program to further enhance PTC students’ learning experience.
These partnerships are critical to institutional growth and increased opportunities for students. Solutions can be mutually beneficial by adding high-demand programs to align with regional business and labor needs and help fill the regional workforce pipeline.
In 2020, PTC partnered with Pittsburgh-based self-driving leader Aurora to create its associate degree in robotics and autonomous engineering technology. This 18-month program gives rising technicians early hands-on experience with routine maintenances, repairs, and upgrades, so they will be properly trained to enter the workforce.
“Service Engineer Technicians (SETs) — the in-demand, skilled doers who maintain and customize robotic or autonomous systems — are indispensable, from engineering all the way to the manufacturing site,” said Dr. Alicia Harvey-Smith. “Our innovative program helps encourage and shape the next generation.”
PTC also partnered with Carnegie Mellon University (CMU) to help Steel City Gastronomy with its new local Pittsburgh chocolate facility. Students from Information Technology (IT) are designing the website while robotics students are designing the cocoa bean sorter. Students in PTC’s culinary department were also approached to work in the chocolate facility post-graduation. This partnership is part of a longstanding relationship with the university.
PTC also expands pathways and trains the next generation of workers through dual enrollment high school programs that drive workforce expansion and engage students earlier in their careers. PTC partners with secondary education institutions A.W. Beattie Career Center and West Allegheny School District, advising them on curriculum, equipment, state exams, and certifications, to strengthen their robotics classes and strengthen awareness of trade opportunities.
1- https://www.wesa.fm/economy-business/2022-12-14/pittsburgh-robotics-companies-are-trying-to-figure-out-who-will-keep-the-machines-running
2- https://www.bls.gov/emp/tables/stem-employment.htm
3- https://3dprintingindustry.com/news/what-is-the-future-of-3d-printing-80-additive-manufacturing-experts-forecast-3d-printing-trends-for-2023-220261/
4- https://capitalanalyticsassociates.com/pittsburgh-is-at-the-forefront-of-a-new-era-for-additive-manufacturing/
5- https://dced.pa.gov/pennsylvanias-top-industries/advanced-manufacturing/
About Pittsburgh Technical College Pittsburgh Technical College is a private, two-year college that is critical to the regional workforce. It has a 96% field placement rate and 80% of its graduates remain within the Western Pennsylvania region. Learn more about Pittsburgh Technical College at www.ptcollege.edu.
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