Mechatronics Program Earns ARM Institute Endorsement
by Jenn Adrien
December 13, 2021
LAKEWOOD, Wash. – Clover Park Technical College’s Mechatronics Program is proud to announce that it has earned ARM Institute Endorsement. ARM Endorsement recognizes programs that prepare students for manufacturing careers working with robotics.
With an emphasis on design and production of automated equipment, the multidisciplinary field of mechatronics combines mechanical, electrical, telecommunications, control and computer engineering. Students gain work-ready practical skills to prepare for a wide span of careers in such fields as robotics, agricultural automation, programmable logic controller (PLC) programming, control systems, smart infrastructure or industrial automation.
The ARM Institute is the nation’s leading collaborative in robotics and workforce innovation, working at the confluence of industry, government, and academia. Structured as a public-private partnership, the ARM Institute and its 300+ member organizations catalyze robotic technologies and education solutions to strengthen the U.S. industrial base and secure U.S. manufacturing resiliency. The institute is sponsored by the Department of Defense, and its diverse membership base includes start-ups, research universities, community colleges, manufacturers of all sizes, government agencies, workforce development organizations, and more.
The ARM Endorsement Program is a thorough process used to identify organizations that are the most effective at preparing students for careers in manufacturing working with robotics. The Endorsement program was conceptualized and created through the ARM Institute’s 300+-member national consortium, giving equal voice to the need of manufacturers, education providers, and government stakeholders. The program leverages the ARM Institute’s competency and skills framework that outlines the career options and skills needed for a manufacturing career working with robotics.
The endorsement criteria are comprehensive, evaluating both organizations and their programs based upon the following benchmarks:
• Relevance to the Industry
• Effective Curriculum
• Efficiency of the Training
• Impact of the Program
• Program Sustainability
• Transportability
“We are pleased to recognize elite organizations for preparing workers for Industry 4.0 careers,” noted Lisa Masciantonio, ARM Institute Chief Workforce Officer, “Effective training will be key to our nation navigating the mounting skills gap and workforce shortage in manufacturing. Recognizing top-tier programs will help students identify the best training for their desired manufacturing career.”
Endorsed programs are highlighted on RoboticsCareer.org, the ARM Institute’s national capability that connects students and workers with robotics education programs for manufacturing careers.
Clover Park Technical College offers over 40 programs and more than 100 degree and certificate options organized into seven Schools: Aerospace and Aviation; Science, Technology, Engineering and Design; Automotive and Trades; Advanced Manufacturing; Nursing; Health and Human Development; and Business and Personal Services. The college also provides certification, online and distance learning, as well as continuing education courses. For more information, visit www.cptc.edu and find @CloverParkTech on our Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and LinkedIn channels.
The Advanced Robotics for Manufacturing (ARM) Institute is a Manufacturing Innovation Institute (MII) funded by the Office of the Secretary of Defense under Agreement Number W911NF-17-3-0004, and part of the Manufacturing USA® network. The ARM Institute leverages a unique, robust, and diverse ecosystem of consortium members and partners across industry, academia, and government to make robotics, autonomy, and artificial intelligence more accessible to U.S. manufacturers large and small, train and empower the manufacturing workforce, strengthen our economy and global competitiveness, and elevate national security and resilience. Based in Pittsburgh, PA since 2017, the ARM Institute is leading the way to a future where people and robots work together to respond to our nation’s greatest challenges and to produce the world’s most desired products. For more information, visit www.arminstitute.org and follow the ARM Institute on LinkedIn and Twitter.