Andrew Daniels demonstrates pneumatic training equipment in the Production Technician lab at William N. Pennington Applied Technology Center.
The next Production Technician Program at Truckee Meadows Community College is underway for the Fall Semester and it is not too late to enroll. This program offers a convenient open-entry format to accommodate a variety of schedules.
With large firms such as Tesla Motors, Panasonic and Switch moving into Nevada, the demand for skilled production technicians will rise dramatically, according to experts.
“Companies with any level of mass production or automation will need production technicians and TMCC has the programs to train this emerging workforce,” said Kyle Dalpe, PhD, Interim Dean of Technical Sciences. “This goes for all size businesses—from a mega-factory to companies with 150 employees.”
The open-access course format allows students to work at their own pace through classes that have been divided into half-credit segments. The Certificate of Achievement is a 34-credit program in total that can be completed at a student’s own pace.
Students signing up for a smaller number of credits at the start of the term may later enroll for additional half-credit sections if they finish the initial coursework with enough time to complete the new class segments before the end of the semester. Typically, the cut-off point to sign up for additional classes is about six weeks prior to the end of the term.
“Motivated students may complete a three-credit module by the end of October, and then can sign up for another,” Dalpe said. “It’s flexible and you can start any time during the semester.”
Labs and Free Printed Materials
Books and printed materials are provided free of charge, through check-out and return. The texts cannot leave the building, but online versions are available as PDF files.
The training lab is open during the following hours:
- Mondays-Thursdays 9 a.m.-8:30 p.m.
- Fridays 9 a.m.-5 p.m.
- Saturdays 9 a.m.-3 p.m.
“It’s student-centered learning,” said Andrew Daniels, Instructor for many of the Production Technician modules. “We explain the components and workbook or lab sheet diagram at the beginning. The students then work on hands-on lab assignments, and instructors or lab assistants go around to see how it’s going and if there are any questions.”
The program stresses technical excellence.
“I encourage students to go above and beyond what the lab requires and we have the equipment and potential to do that,” Daniels said.
There are also computers in the Resource Center at the Applied Technology Center, which has the same hours as the training lab, but students are advised to check for any additional hours or schedule updates.
Students need to enroll in person at the Resource Center in the William N. Pennington Applied Technology Center, 475 Edison Way, in Reno.
“Once a student earns the certificate, they are well-prepared to sit for the Certified Production Technician credential,” Dalpe said.
The Manufacturing Skills Standards Council (MSSC) is a nonprofit assessment and certificate-granting organization that is led by industry representatives from across the U.S. The Production Technician Certificate Program is 100 percent funded as part of a $3,201,968 grant awarded under the Trade Adjustment Assistance Community College and Career Training Grant Program (TAACCCT), as implemented by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Employment and Training Administration.
Contact the Production Technician Program for more information.