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The Advanced Manufacturing / Integrated Systems Technology Level 1 Certificate is the recommended starting point for workers engaged in multi-disciplinary industrial maintenance operations and for workers and students who wish to begin a program of study leading to an Associate Degree in Mechatronics Engineering Technology.
This certificate was originally created by the National Center for Integrated Systems Technology under the auspices of the US Department of Labor (see About AM/IST). It provides training in three areas: mechanical technology, electrical technology and programmable logic controller technology. Training includes both theoretical and hands-on learning using real industrial equipment.
Students completing this program will have mastered the knowledge and skills to perform basic industrial maintenance operations in many typical manufacturing plants. Employers have used this program to train candidates for industrial maintenance jobs, to update skills of existing maintenance staff, to cross train single-discipline staff in multiple disciplines, to provide background for supervisors, and to give engineers a better appreciation for real-world plant situations.
All of the course work for this certificate articulates for credit at Reading Area Community College in Reading, PA without addtional cost. Successful completion of the programbrings11 credits.Students receive a grade on all completed training modules. Provisions are in place for experienced students to test out of portions of the program that they have already mastered through other training or work experience. Employers may also make use of pre-testing to determine starting levels of their employees.
The training utilizes a combination of e-learning and instructor-proctored hands-on labs. Students may complete the e-learning portion from any location that has a high-speed internet connectionto an appropriate computer. Students have utilized the e-learning from the workplace, home, on the road or within the lab itself. When the student completes an appropriate amount of e-learning content, he or she then schedules time in the lab to complete the hands-on exercises under the watchful eye of an instructor. Instructors will also monitor student progress on the on-line modules and make themselves available for assistance as needed.
Since there are no regular classes to be attended, students may register and begin classes each week and may proceed at a rate agreed to between the student and the employer. Labs are open on flexible schedules to suit shift and maintenance work. Depending upon a student's prior background and interest, one may begin the program in either the mechanical or electrical area.
The full program is offered either at the Schmidt Training & Technology Center of Reading Area Community College or the Mt. Joy Campus of Lancaster County Career and Technology Center.
Depending upon the chosen's schools availability of equipment, the AM/IST Level 1 certificate may be taken in one of two versions most appropriate to a student's industry or interest and using 1 of 3 programmable logic control platforms.
The original version was created and is recommended for metals, automotive and similar industries where hydraulics are heavily applied. A revised versionis recommended for food, beverage, pharmaceutical, packaging or other industries that tend toprefer pneumatic and vacuum systems. Each version presents an equivalent level ofapplication and troubleshooting experience using the appropriate fluid power technologies. Studnets completing AM/IST Level 2 will complete both the heavy-up hydraulic and the heavy-up pneumatic parts of the curriculum, no matter which option they choose for Level 1.
Eachof the AM/IST certificates are intended to be platform independent withrespect to the programmable logic controllers (PLCs) used. Students may choose from Rockwell Automation's SLC500 or ControlLogix or Siemen's S7 platforms.
Read a trade press account of how this program is helping to upskill workers in our region. |
