ARM Institute Endorses Four New Robotics Training Programs

The Advanced Robotics for Manufacturing, or ARM, Institute today announced that it has evaluated and selected four more training programs to receive ARM Endorsement. The institute recognized programs in Ohio, Tennessee, and Pennsylvania as being among the nation's most effective for robotics careers in manufacturing.

“Our nation’s ability to grow U.S. manufacturing is inhibited by a historic skills gap,” said Mary Ellen Rich, certification manager at the ARM Institute. “Effective training programs are critical to both recruiting the next generation of manufacturers and upskilling our current workforce. Congratulations to each of our endorsed programs on this well-earned recognition.”

The ARM Institute is a public-private partnership sponsored by the U.S. Department of Defense. It brings together industry, government, and academia to make robots and artificial intelligence available to U.S. manufacturers of all sizes.

In addition, the ARM Institute strives to empower the manufacturing workforce, strengthen global competitiveness, and improve national security and resilience. The Pittsburgh-based organization has more than 380 member organizations.

Four programs receive recognition

The ARM Institute said the latest four training programs that it has selected all help students learn how to use robots in manufacturing. It provided information about each program below, and more is available at RoboticsCareer.org.

• The National Center for Urban Solutions (NCUS) Tec in Columbus, Ohio: The Handling Tool Operations and Programming certification course is an approved FANUC curriculum that prepares operators, technicians, and programmers to set up and record programs on a robot. The course covers the robot operations with the specific tasks required to set up applications, test, and run programs.
• Motlow State Community College, Tullahoma, Tenn.: This program provides the academic knowledge and practical experience necessary to prepare students for employment as highly skilled mechatronics technicians. The concentration is specifically provided for students who are interested in working as technicians in an integrated multidisciplinary industrial environment.
• Southwestern Pennsylvania (SWPA) Bots IQ, Pittsburgh: BotsIQ’s Robotics Technician pre-apprenticeship program offers a blended approach to learning. Online learning platforms provide industry-quality instruction, supplemented with hands-on activities and projects to provide opportunities to develop technical skills. Throughout the pre-apprenticeship, the BotsIQ teacher documents each student’s progress towards successfully mastering the program’s competencies.
• Westmoreland County Community College, Youngwood, Pa.: This robotics associate degree program is designed to provide students with the knowledge they need to assist manufacturing, mechanical, and electrical engineers in all phases of design, development, production, testing, and operations. Graduates can gain the knowledge and skills required to manage, investigate, repair, and troubleshoot automated systems with the aim of operational efficiency.

ARM Endorsement Program sets criteria

ARM launched its endorsement program with RoboticsCareer.org, the institute’s national workforce resource.

The ARM Endorsement Program thoroughly identifies and evaluates organizations that are the most effective at preparing students for careers in manufacturing and working with robotics. With more than 16,700 training programs listed on RoboticsCareer.org, this guidance is critical to helping students, workers, and employers looking to upskill their workforce find the best match for their needs.

The ARM Endorsement program was developed with the institute's national consortium, giving equal voice to the needs of manufacturers, education providers, and government stakeholders. It said the criteria used to evaluate both organizations and programs align with the institute's career pathways and competencies. They include the following benchmarks:

• Relevance to the manufacturing industry
• Effective curriculum
• Efficiency of the training
• Impact of the program
• Program sustainability
• Transportability

In addition to these newly-endorsed programs, the ARM Institute has also endorsed programs at the following organizations: Carnegie Mellon Robotics Academy, Clover Park Technical College, Community College of Allegheny County (CCAC), Fortress Academy, Horizon Science Academy Columbus High School (HSA), and the National Coalition of Certification Centers (NC3).

It has also endorsed programs at Universal Robots, the University of Maryland, the University of Washington, Wichita State University Campus of Applied Sciences and Technology (WSU Tech), and Wichita State University, Department of Engineering Technology.

About RoboticsCareer.org

RoboticsCareer.org supports U.S. workers through each stage of their professional lives – from students exploring career options to incumbent workers looking to take the next step in their careers. The ARM Institute said it connects the full ecosystem needed to correct the skills and labor gap.

RoboticsCareer.org houses the nation’s only database dedicated to training programs for robotics careers in manufacturing, claimed the institute. Through digital profile creation, this resource provides personalized training recommendations that align directly to the education seeker’s desired career pathway. Learn how to use our guided education search here.

In the near future, RoboticsCareer.org will also host jobs. Through digital profile functionality, it match career seekers with accounts to jobs that match their skills and career goals. Interested parties can join the site's mailing list.