NAAMREI Wired Initiative

Institute for Advanced Manufacturing

Texas State Technical College Harlingen, in collaboration with South Texas College is  excited to be part of the North American Advanced Manufacturing Research & Education Initiative (NAAMREI) which is devoted to developing a world class advanced manufacturing industry in the Rio South Texas Region. NAAMREI combines the innovation, talents and strategy of more than 60 partners in business, education, economic development, industry, finance and government to offer manufacturers across North America, and the globe, access to proprietary, world-class advanced manufacturing and rapid response manufacturing. NAAMREI is a U.S. Department of Labor WIRED project devoted to developing a skilled and talented workforce. For more information visit: http://www.naamrei.org.

The NAAMREI network consists of three major alliances:

o   North American Technology & Innovation Alliance

o   Rio South Texas Manufacturing College Alliance  

o   Region One ESC T-STEM Alliance

TSTC, has partnered with local colleges to create the Rio South Texas Manufacturing College Alliance. The Alliance is charged with leading the implementation of a regional skills credentialing customized training system in the region. The service region is Webb, Jim Hogg, Zapata, Starr, Hidalgo, Cameron and Willacy Counties.

The Alliance was established five years ago to implement a regional apprenticeship program for tool and die, industrial maintenance, machinist and plastics. South Texas College is the lead agency. The alliance includes representatives from Texas Southmost College, Laredo Community College, Texas State Technical College, Texas Manufacturing Assistance Center, WorkFORCE Solutions (South Texas, Lower Rio Grande Valley, Cameron), South Texas Manufacturers Association, Harlingen Manufacturers Association and Brownsville Area Manufacturers Association.

The Alliance has established three Advanced Manufacturing Institutes at South Texas College, Texas State Technical College, Texas Southmost College and Laredo Community College. This talent development strategy will be supported by WIRED funds and other leveraged talent development funds. The WIRED investment and a leveraged three million dollar Skills Development Grant from the Texas Workforce Commission will create a world class regional customized training delivery system for advanced manufacturing, training 1,822 new and incumbent workers over three years.

At TSTC, we offer customized manufacturing training in areas such as Health and Safety, Skilled Trades, Computers/Software, Quality Systems, Lean Manufacturing, Professional Development and Supervisory / Team building. Our courses offer real world hands on applications to help develop skilled workers in the manufacturing industry. Our sate of the art Advanced Manufacturing Integrated Systems Technology lab (AMIST) is geared with training modules in various technologies. The lab utilizes a blended interactive computer system to train students applied concepts of advanced manufacturing. The equipment function mirrors those that workers would be using at their manufacturing facility. The core areas offered through the AMIST training consist of:

Basic Electricity

This course teaches the fundamental theories and applications of electrical energy. Students learn industry-relevant skills including how to operate, install, design, and troubleshoot AC and DC electrical circuits for various applications.

 Electric Motors

This Course covers the fundamentals of single phase and three phase alternating current motors and direct current motors including operating principles, characteristics, applications, selection, installation, maintenance and troubleshooting.

 Electrical Control System Wiring

The student will learn how to interpret and describe the function of an electrical print, install a terminal block in an electrical panel and several other tasks involved in delivering proper power to an operator station.

 Basic Programmable Controllers

This course offers the student the fundamentals of Programmable Logic Controllers (PLC). The students will learn the basic parts of a PLC system, digital fundamentals, addressing various controls, such as timers and counters.

 Hydraulics and Pneumatics

This course covers basic and intermediate hydraulics and pneumatic system components. Students will display competence in principles and operations of basic hydraulic and pneumatic system. Students will also become familiar with flow meters, pressure gauges, different types of valves to make  flow and pressure adjustments, and interpret schematics and troubleshoot both types of systems.

 Mechanical Drive Systems

In this course the student will lean to explain the different types of gearboxes and their application, explain gear ratio in relation to input and output speeds, recognize and identify types of gears and identify / explain chain and belt drives along with fundamental alignment techniques and the various use of metrology tools.

Two students who have capitalized on the AMIST training program had this to offer to people interested in the program:

“I think that the AMIST program is a wonderful program for people like me that want to learn more about  basic electronics. When I started the AMIST program, I did not know anything about electricity, this program gave me the understanding on how electricity works and how to put it to use.

You get hands on practice with the Amatrol equipment. I strongly recommend this program to anyone who wants to learn electronics or just refresh their knowledge.”  -Steve Garza

“This is an excellent opportunity for anyone who wishes to learn new areas of study to enhance their existing knowledge. I have learned a great deal from each course, and most importantly , I even had the opportunity to apply my teachings by repairing an electrical wiring problem. It was a rewarding feeling. At work, I can now recognize our electrical schematics and electrical components as well. Now that I am able to read electrical ladder diagrams, I feel confident that I will be able to troubleshoot electrical problems when they arise.

On another positive aspect, I feel I am now more versatile, making me more valuable to my employer, thus increasing my chances for future job opportunities.”   -Christopher Ramos

For more information about our Institute for Advanced Manufacturing at TSTC, please contact us:

Juan D. Garza

Program Manager

Industrial Training Coordinator

1902 N. Loop 499

Harlingen, TX 78550

956-364-4506 or 364-4529

Fax: 956-364-5142

Juan.garza@harlingen.tstc.edu

http://www.harlingen.tstc.edu/