Manufacturing is a big business for Oklahoma. Making up nearly 10% of the state’s economic output in 2019, the manufacturing sector employed 136,000 individuals who had an average salary of more than $70,000, according to the National Association of Manufacturers.

Meridian Technology Center’s Workforce and Economic Development team is launching a new Certified Production Technician short course that will allow district residents to further their manufacturing skill levels to meet the needs of one of the state’s top industries.

“If you’ve got one night a week for three months, this certification program can equip you with the skills you need for a successful career in manufacturing,” explained Workforce and Economic Development Project Coordinator Chris Allen. “It’s hands-on and industry-recognized. This combination is what employers are looking for. It truly is a small investment that can reap big rewards.”

Sessions begin each Wednesday, and attendees will have 12 weeks to complete the program. According to Allen, completion can lead to employment in a variety of manufacturing settings working with machinery or equipment, using any combination of electrical, electronic, mechanical, hydraulic, pneumatic or computer technologies.

Cody Erwin, Meridian’s full-time Energy and Power program instructor, will facilitate the 180-hour course. Erwin has industry experience as an industrial maintenance technician and he teaches courses in controls, instrumentation and robotics within the school’s full-time program.

Content for the series is broken down into four modules. The first module, Industrial Safety, will focus on training and leading a production team with an emphasis on standards of industrial safety. Manufacturing Processes and Production, the second course in the series, will concentrate on high-performance manufacturing processes, including mechanical drives, machining processes, operations and production planning. The third module, Quality Practices and Measurement, will focus on continuous improvements in the production process. Welding, electrical theory and measurements, hydraulic and pneumatic power, mechanical drive systems and machine automation will be covered in Maintenance Awareness, the final module.

In addition to earning the Certified Production Technician designation from the Manufacturing Skills Standard Council, course completers can earn an OSHA 10 Safety card, CPR and First Aid certification, and a National Career Readiness Certificate from ACT.

Commitment to Developing a Highly Skilled Workforce

The Workforce and Economic Development division provides training and services in the areas of computers, industrial training, leadership and staff development, safety and entrepreneurial services. Team members also work with communities to ensure they can expand and attract new businesses to the area.

Along with designing courses that are specific to an industry partner’s needs, the Workforce and Economic Division offers a variety of personal and professional development courses each semester. Last year, this division served more than 420 businesses and had 12,580 enrollments in customized training courses and offered 272 open enrollment courses.

For more information and pricing on the Certified Production Technician short course, contact Chris Allen at chrisa@meridiantech.edu. To enroll call (405) 377-3333 or toll-free at (888) 607-2509.