Ivy Tech Community College is launching a new Smart Manufacturing and Digital Integration (SMDI) Associate Degree program. Advanced manufacturing is Indiana’s leading sector and is quickly becoming transformed through digitization and smart manufacturing. In response to this evolution, Ivy Tech Community College is adapting to meet the state’s workforce needs. This degree will be offered this fall at the Lafayette, Kokomo, Columbus, Indianapolis, Madison, Sellersburg, South Bend/Elkhart, and Terre Haute campuses.
The SMDI degree was developed with the new industry 4.0 Smart Automation Certification Alliance (SACA) credentialing embedded in the courses, including technical certificates and certifications. These credentials are free to Ivy Tech Students, partially funded through the Department of Labor’s Closing the Skills Gap grant awarded last year to Ivy Tech. The program fully blends the technical and hands-on training needed to stay competitive in this ever-changing field.
Ivy Tech has established the Industry 4.0 Advisory Board, one of the first in the nation, to oversee the implementation of the Department of Labor’s grant. This four-year grant focuses on creating apprenticeship opportunities for employers in advanced manufacturing, specifically Industry 4.0.
The advisory board provides a forum for influential employers throughout the state to discuss new industry trends, as well as determine new and innovative training and apprenticeship programs to fill the growing shortage of highly skilled industrial workers. The advisory board will also offer input on program development and review, in addition to providing advice on company recruitment and overall strategy over the four-year grant period.
Ivy Tech is committed to providing training and apprenticeship opportunities as new technologies are being introduced at manufacturing facilities throughout the state. To support these changes, it is critical that fully-trained workers are available who have both the technical and on-the-job training to implement, integrate, and operate these new technologies. The apprenticeship model provides them a proven pathway to upskill their employees. The advisory board will serve an integral role in the landscape of Indiana’s manufacturing future.
As a state and as a country, we have workforce challenges,” said Sue Griffith Smith, Vice President of Advanced Manufacturing, Engineering and Applied Science at Ivy Tech Community College. “Apprenticeship is a proven workforce development, economic development, employee recruitment and talent retention tool. We appreciate the support of this board in advising us on expanding apprenticeship in Indiana to address the increasing digital technology needs for the fourth industrial revolution.”
“At Endress+Hauser, we have a long-standing history with apprenticeships that are deep routed in our history in Europe,” said Robert Head, Apprenticeship Manager, Endress + Hauser Flow and Advisory Board member. “The apprenticeship model allows young people to obtain the needed technical skills to reach their goals and build the surrounding community. Our apprentices have the opportunity to support production centers in functional roles, technical projects, continuous improvement efforts, allowing Endress + Hauser to expand our smart factory technologies and remain an industry leader.”