Hodde Center’s Manufacturing Technician OSA prepares students for manufacturing and production careers
Students who take a series of three machining courses will earn the Occupational Skills Award
October 24, 2018
The Blinn College District is now offering students the opportunity to earn a Manufacturing Technician Occupational Skills Award (OSA) at the A.W. Hodde, Jr. Technical Education Center in Brenham.
“We have packaged the program so that students receive manual machining skills, computer and numeric control skills, and the AutoCAD software program skills in one semester,” said David Yeager, Director of the Hodde Center. “We adjust our program based on the needs in the industry and this is something employers are looking for in new hires.”
Students who complete Drafting: Autodesk AutoCAD, Basic Machine Shop, and Fundamentals of CNC Setup and Operations will earn a Manufacturing Technician Occupational Skills Award and bring valuable skill sets to all areas of industrial production. Students can take all three courses in one semester or split the courses between multiple semesters.
“This program focuses on essential industrial dynamics related to production safety, quality control, productivity, and customer satisfaction,” said Jay Anderson, Dean of Technical and Community Programs.
Blinn College offered its first AutoCAD course this semester.
“After listening to industry advising committee, AutoCAD was a really big deal for us to add to present a higher quality of a candidate,” Yeager said.
Upon completion, students have an opportunity to earn an AutoDesk AutoCAD Certified User Certificate.
“I was really glad to hear that Blinn was offering AutoCAD because it is an extremely valuable tool to have in your skill set and anything that can be built can be designed using the software program,” said student Daniel Henrion. “After completing these three courses, I am going to be a more valuable employee. The instructors have effective teaching methods and good relationships with local manufacturing companies, and it is an affordable program.”
Basic Machine Shop introduces the students to machining fundamentals with an emphasis on shop safety, housekeeping, and preventative maintenance. Fundamentals of CNC Setup and Operations introduces the student to basic setup and operations of CNC machines. Students will learn to set up fixtures, tool holders, and tooling, and to enter programs, make minor edits, and run programs using a Haas Control.
“This series of courses allows students to gain a set of skills that will help them enter the manufacturing workplace,” said Brisco Humes, machining lab coordinator.
Drafting: Autodesk AutoCAD, Basic Machine Shop, and Fundamentals of CNC Setup and Operations will be offered during the Spring semester. Registration begins in mid-November. To register and learn more, contact the Hodde Center by visiting 2910 S. Blue Bell Rd. in Brenham, emailing workforce@blinn.edu, or calling 979-830-4443.
The Blinn College District’s technical and community education courses have been designed in partnership with industry leaders to provide students the knowledge and skills they need to enter the workforce immediately after completion. Many of these courses do not require a high school diploma and enrollment is fast and easy.
Students trained in CNC machining are in high demand by industry employers. CNC lathes are rapidly replacing older production lathes due to their ease of setting, operation, repeatability, and accuracy. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, CNC machinists earn a median annual wage of $42,600.
Available at the Hodde Center, Fundamentals of CNC Controls is an introductory course that will assist students in understanding the relationship between computers and machines in industry and the impact CNC machines have made on every person on the planet. Instruction on machine terminology, theory, part layout, and bench work is included. An emphasis is placed on shop safety, housekeeping, and preventative maintenance.
