(left to right) Andre DuVerney and Eugenio Trujillo train in the eight-week Industrial Automation Technician course, funded by the U.S. Department of Labor, at the San Jacinto College Maritime and Technical Training Center. Photo credit: Jeannie Peng-Armao, San Jacinto College marketing department

Manufacturing courses designed to fit workers for specific job positions in local industry

Jeannie Peng-Armao -- September 11, 2012

PASADENA, Texas – Manufacturing companies are becoming more specific in the skill sets they request when considering new hires. In result, San Jacinto College has developed short-term courses catering to the needs of local industry, some with guaranteed interviews upon successful completion.

"I talk to a lot applicants who don't even know the skills it takes to work at our company," said James Dees, senior staffing specialist with KBR, LLC, which employs approximately 27,000 people worldwide. "We definitely need more electricians and instrument fitters. I wish I could take the time to train new hires myself, but there are too many people and not enough of me."

With help from a U.S. Department of Labor High Growth and Emerging Industries (HGEI) grant, the San Jacinto College Continuing and Professional Development (CPD) division is able to offer potential workers free training for computer numerical control (CNC), programmable logic controller (PLC), and for the demanded industrial automation technician (IAT) position. These courses range from one to eight weeks, and tuition assistance is available to dislocated or unemployed workers and veterans.

Texas ranks within the top five states with the highest employment level for machinists, with the national average hour wage rounding out to $19, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Since June 30, 2012, 52 people training in CNC, PLC, or IAT courses with San Jacinto College have been placed at companies needing skilled workers.

Single father Sergio Quiroga of Pasadena hopes to be one of the lucky students who land one of those jobs after he completes the IAT course to become a certified electrical apprentice.

"I'm learning a lot about electrical wiring, cutting, bending, a little bit of programming, and logic controls," said Quiroga. "I feel good about choosing this class because electrical jobs are always needed."

The IAT course includes 296 contact hours in electronic and mechanical systems, CAD/CAM, automation and material handling, quality control, programmable logic controllers, and robotics. The PLC course itself includes 40 contact hours on the different makes and models of programmable logic controllers and functions, digital relay logic control, ladder logic drawings and circuit analysis, theory of operation, digital inputs and outputs, basic programming techniques, and troubleshooting. The CNC course includes 176 contact hours on machining mathematics, blueprint reading, precision measurement, quality assurance and control, process planning, job planning and layout, tools, lathe operations, and lathe lab time with project assignments.

Each course also includes career information and job readiness training.

"Every course we offer provides training in technical skills requested by local industry," said Ellen Bay, the HGEI grant project director with CPD. "Our goal is to have these students job ready and connect them to the companies that have requested these specific skill sets."

Training courses in CNC, PLC, and IAT are offered at the College's Maritime and Technical Training Center at 3234 Pasadena Freeway in Pasadena. For additional information about the Department of Labor funded courses, call Ellen Bay at 281-501-0021 or email ellen.bay@sjcd.edu.

About the Continuing and Professional Development division
This noncredit division of the College provides training for both current and future employees in the professional and technical job sectors, as well as provides participants with open enrollment course options to enhance their lives. Professional and technical training is available through contract training, open enrollment and grant funding. For more information, call 281-476-1838 or visit cpd.sanjac.edu.

About San Jacinto College
Surrounded by monuments of history, industries and maritime enterprises of today, and the space age of tomorrow, San Jacinto College has been serving the citizens of East Harris County, Texas, for more than 50 years. The Achieving the Dream Leader College is committed to the goals and aspirations of a diverse population of 30,000 students in more than 200 degree and certificate options, including university transfer and career preparation. Students also benefit from the College’s job training programs, renowned for meeting the needs of growing industries in the region. San Jacinto College graduates contribute nearly $630 million each year to the Texas workforce. San Jacinto College. Your Goals. Your College.

For more information about San Jacinto College, please call 281-998-6150, or follow us on Facebook and Twitter.