Pathways

Automation & Robotics

The use of robotics technology in the production of a wide-variety of items is growing quickly. This pathway prepares you to program, troubleshoot, and maintain these highly specialized machines. By automating processes with robotics technology, production is becoming safer for employees, more efficient, and more environmentally friendly. Robotics technology careers are present in the automotive, medical, food processing, plastics, and manufacturing fields.

Plastics Technology

Michigan is home to plastics manufacturers that directly employ 57,300 people, many of those in the nearby town of Beaverton. The thermoforming industry, the process of heating sheets of plastic and forming them into useable products, is a growing and expanding industry. This pathway prepares you to safely and effectively operate thermoforming equipment and produce a wide-variety of products for commercial clients and retail consumers.

Machine Tool

Machinists use machine tools, such as lathes, grinders, and CNC machines, to produce precision metal parts. Tool and die makers construct metal forms, known as dies, that are used to cut, shape, and form metal and other raw materials. These skilled craftsmen are critical to many manufacturing industries and are instrumental in the process of making fasteners, from steel bolts to pins used in orthopedic surgeries, hydraulic parts, anti-lock brakes, and automotive pistons, among many other items. This pathway gives you the skills to make a significant impact in the manufacturing field.

Welding

Welders join pieces of metal together using heat, and work in a wide variety of industries, from car racing to manufacturing. The work that welders do and the equipment they use vary depending on the industry. This pathway prepares you for success by allowing you to build the skills and gain the certifications required by the industry.

Manufacturing Management

Do you have manufacturing experience? Utilize your skills and advance your career! Manufacturing is a diverse field that requires a workforce with a wide-variety of skills and in-depth knowledge. Companies need leaders who are capable of efficiently utilizing the resources available, including the skills and knowledge of employees as well as raw materials, to accomplish the organization's goals. This pathway is designed to prepare you to be a leader who is ready to foster teamwork, ensure a safe work environment, and effectively leverage resources to deliver results.

Industry-Recognized Certifications

You may be wondering how employers will know what skills you've mastered by completing your degree at Mid. To highlight these skills, Mid has partnered with a variety of organizations to award industry-recognized skill certifications. As part of this effort, Mid is affiliated with NC3, the National Coalition of Certification Centers, a nationwide network of education/training providers and corporations that develops, implements, and sustains industry-recognized certifications built on national skills standards. Industry-recognized certifications provide a return on your education investment through hands-on training using state of the art tools and equipment. These NC3-backed certifications are earned in addition to your Mid credential and increase your employment potential.

AIM Industry-Recognized Certifications

• SNAP-ON® AND STARRETT® PRECISION MEASUREMENT INSTRUMENTS CERTIFICATION

• The successful completion of the Snap-on Precision Measurement Instruments Certification enables graduates to demonstrate a solid understanding of the fundamentals of working with precision measurement instruments. The skills acquired during this comprehensive training are valuable tools for life that can lead to rewarding careers in a vast array of industries in the global marketplace.
• Precision measuring is the cornerstone of quality in products and services many people rely upon each day. Starrett, Snap-on, and NC3 combined their industrial experience and expertise to create a certification that includes hands-on training on instruments that are vital to engineering, manufacturing, aerospace, power generation, and natural resources, to name a few. Those who earn this certification will be proficient in the use of a variety of instruments ranging from tapes and rules to calipers and micrometers.
• Certification Content Includes:
  • Tape and Rule Measurement
  • Side Caliper Measurement
  • Gauge Measurement
  • Angle Measurement
  • Micrometer Measurement
  • Dial Gauge Measurement

• SNAP-ON® MULTIMETER CERTIFICATION

  • The Snap-on Multimeter Certification is awarded to students who have been trained in the use of Snap-on advanced electrical monitoring equipment. The knowledge and experience gained in this critical discipline are tools for life essential to a successful career in critical industries such as automotive repair, transportation, wind power, manufacturing, HVAC, and robotics.
  • This certification includes training on the problem-solving capabilities of Snap-on digital multimeters — the same technology used by professionals in the workplace. Training is focused on subjects from basic applications to advanced troubleshooting. This certification provides a widely recognized endorsement of technical expertise and demonstrated achievement. When students successfully complete this Snap-on certification, they obtain one of the most requested skills in the industry today.
  • Certification Content Includes:
    • Multimeter controls and operation
    • Meter display readings and symbols
    • Importance of proper terminal connections
    • Basic applications
    • Troubleshooting techniques
    • Hands-on operation of Snap-on multimeter models:
    EEDM504D auto ranging | EEDM525D auto ranging, true RMS | EEDM575D digital clamp on EEDM596D true RMS, USB to PC, graphing software | EEDM604D auto ranging, true RMS, CATIII certified, 650 meter certification
    • Lab exercises
    • Online testing

• NEW! FESTO PLC LEVEL I CERTIFICATION

  • The FESTO PLC Level I Certification is awarded to students who have been training in the use of a PLC, specifics of the programming environment, and programming languages. This certification includes hands-on training with industrial control equipment. Realistic examples are used to allow students to gain the skills needed to work with PLC controlled systems.
  • Certification Content Includes:
    • Control relays
    • Basic design and operation
    • PLC sections
    • Input types
    • Memory types
    • Logic processing
    • Output types
    • Number systems
    • Boolean functions
    • Basic troubleshooting

• NEW! FESTO AC/DC LEVEL I CERTIFICATION

  • The FESTO AC/DC Level I Certification is awarded to students who have developed a strong understanding of electricity and how to work with it safely. This certification has been specifically developed to give students the knowledge and skills to work safely and effectively with electricity. Hands-on training components allow students to build, test, and troubleshoot AC/DC circuits and examine operating voltages and currents related to proper circuit operation.
  • Certification Content Includes:
    • AC/DC electrical currents
    • Ohm's Law
    • Kirchhoff's voltage and current laws
    • Measuring instruments
    • Solving series and parallel circuits
    • Electromagnetism
    • Electrical distribution
    • Troubleshooting electrical circuits
    • Common electrical components

• NEW! FESTO FLUID POWER-HYDRAULICS LEVEL I CERTIFICATION

  • The FESTO Fluid Power-Hydraulics Level I Certification is designed to familiarize students with the construction and operation of hydraulic components. This certification covers the fundamental principles of hydraulics and individual components including valves controlling pressure, flow, rate, sequence, and direction of flow. Students participate in practical, hands-on exercises to demonstrate the operation and maintenance of hydraulic systems.
  • Certification Content Includes:
    • Reading and interpreting basic hydraulic circuit diagrams
    • Understanding the basic physical principles of hydraulics
    • Measuring volumetric flow and pressure
    • Understanding the structure and operation of basic components
    • Understanding the technology behind and characteristics of valves and drive elements
    • Setting up systems in accordance with circuit diagrams
    • Understanding the basic fundamentals of proportional hydraulics

• OSHA & MIOSHA INDUSTRIAL SAFETY

  • These safety certifications ensure you're prepared to enter the workforce safely. Certification content includes OSHA Standards, policies, and procedures in general industry, and provide you with a basic understanding of the scope and application of OSHA General Industry Standards, general industry principles, and special emphasis on those areas in general industry which are most hazardous.

• FANUC PROGRAMMING CERTIFICATION

  • This certification prepares you to successfully handle programming responsibilities for FANUC robots.

• FANUC VISION & CENSOR CERTIFICATION

  • This certification allows you to develop skills focused on FANUC robot vision and censors.

• ARMSTRONG TOOL SAFETY

  • Tool identification and standard safety procedures are covered in this entry-level certification.

• AMERICAN WELDING SOCIETY SENSE LEVEL I

  • The AWS SENSE Program is a comprehensive set of minimum Standards and Guidelines for Welding Education programs. Mid has incorporated SENSE into our curriculum to help insure you receive an education that is consistent and comprehensive. By completing this AWS certification you'll be recognized as a skilled Entry Level Welder.

Why Choose Mid?

A Solid Place to Start

Mid's Advanced Integrated Manufacturing Program & Pathways allow you to gain employable skills like welding and CNC programming, alongside effective communication and project management skills. Laddered skills and certifications build on one another throughout the program, allowing you to work at your own pace and earn proof of your skills on the way to an associate degree.

• If you are currently employed in the manufacturing field and looking to advance your career, or are a military veteran, you have the opportunity to have your past work experience evaluated for college credit. There is no formal portfolio or interview required. Simply sit down, share your story, and see what college credits you have already earned.
• Did you just graduate from high school? Not sure what career will fit you best? Explore the manufacturing field from a variety of perspectives during your first year at Mid, and then specialize in the area that captures your interest.
• AIM class sizes stay small so you can receive one-on-one attention from instructors. Mid also directly connects you to local employers in the region, leading to internship and apprenticeship opportunities which can result in journeyman status if completed successfully.

Flexible Scheduling for Working Students

Open labs, available during the day and evening hours, allow you to complete hands-on lab work when it fits your schedule. Online courses are also offered to make learning at Mid work for you.

Two Years at Mid, Two Years Beyond

By spending two years at Mid, you can transfer credits to colleges and universities across the State and Country. Plus, on average, you'll save $15,500 on your bachelor degree by starting at Mid.*

• Want to gain a bachelor degree or beyond in plastics engineering? Mid Michigan College currently has transfer agreements with Central Michigan University, Ferris State University, and Saginaw Valley State University, and this list continues to expand.

* Source: IPEDS Fall 2018, Institutional Characteristics. Savings compare the median 2018-2019 tuition and required fees for an academic year at public Michigan universities with Mid Michigan College, calculated for full-time, first-time degree/certificate-seeking undergraduates. The tuition and required fees shown here are the lowest reported from the categories of in-district, in-state, and out-of-state. Visit each college or university website for current tuition information.

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