Robust Robotics

Mahoning County Career and Technical Center's journey to ARM Institute Endorsement

Written by Dom Fonce, Staff Writer, MCCTC Adult Career Center & Jodi Glass, Recruiter and Marketing Coordinator, MCCTC Adult Career Center

Mahoning County Career and Technical Center, Adult Career Center recently earned ARM Institute Endorsement. Organizations that earn the ARM Institute’s endorsement pass a rigorous assessment process by proving that they provide students the skills needed for a career in manufacturing working with robotics. ARM (Advanced Robotics for Manufacturing) Endorsement recognizes programs that prepare students for manufacturing careers working with robotics.*

MCCTC Adult Career Center Supervisor Mary Mihalopoulos, said ARM Endorsement represents a commitment to provide training programs that are aligned with industry standards and advancements in robotics technology. “MCCTC strives to meet high-quality education and training standards that is representative of the ARM Endorsement.” MCCTC is dedicated to maintaining the quality and relevance of top training programs. She said her main vision for the MCCTC robotics program is to make a direct impact to the workforce and sustain success in a rapidly evolving field.

What is the ARM Institute?

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.*

What is the value of ARM endorsement?

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

MCCTC Adult Career Center Robotics Instructor, Tom Mihalopoulos is certified to teach FANUC (Fuji Automatic Numerical Control). In instructing FANUC, Tom and his students work with robotic arms of various sizes and with various attachments. Specifically, he instructs employees of businesses who need robotics training. He said he appreciates working with these types of students because there are stakes to their learning—they must return to their employers demonstrating their gained knowledge. So, his classroom environment is professional and serious, but fun and exciting once students begin programing the robotic arms.

He said, “Most workplaces already have robotics and automation,” he said, adding how the public has to adjust to these changes and, by all accounts, largely have adjusted to these changes already. For example, the rise of self-checkout stations is well underway, and the public has adjusted to it with little issue. Automation on the road, in our homes, in our educational institutions, and at our jobs is happening. That is why learning how these machines work is invaluable: Not learning them will put you behind.

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; to 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.*

MCCTC Adult Career Center Training and Employment Coordinator Jim Jarvis said the ARM Endorsement is the absolute authority on determining the efficacy of robotics manufacturing programs. He said, “ARM Endorsement is the metric by which all programs are measured.” According to Jarvis, the application process was long and arduous, but worth it. “Having the ARM seal approval is an amazing accomplishment. It represents that we are serving robotics educational needs to highest degree,” Jarvis said.

Jarvis has worked with numerous northeast Ohio businesses to further train their employees in FANUC robotics. Some of these local companies include: Pennex Aluminum (Leetonia), Columbiana Boiler, Brilex Industries (Youngstown), Compco (Columbiana), Hunt Valve Company (Salem), Graphic Packaging International (Solon), Gasser Chair (Youngstown), General Extrusions International (Youngstown), and Taylor-Winfield Technologies (Youngstown). MCCTC is grateful to these companies for choosing MCCTC to further their employees’ training. Jarvis said his ultimate hope, beyond the prestige of the ARM Endorsement, is to bring awareness to MCCTC’s Adult Career Center and the amazing training opportunities it offers.**

*Excerpts taken from an ARM Institute recent press release announcing Mahoning County Career and Technical Center’s newly awarded endorsement. Information about ARM endorsement and the ARM Institute can be found at roboticscareer.org.

**Information about Robotics training at MCCTC can be found at mahoningctc.com/adult