Western Maricopa Education Center - West-MEC is a paid sponsor of Sonoran Living
The Advanced Manufacturing program offered by the Western Maricopa Education Center (West-MEC) is a cutting-edge, two-year Career and Technical Education (CTE) pathway designed to prepare high school students for thriving careers in modern manufacturing and automation. Grounded in real-world industry standards and emerging technologies, this program equips students with both foundational principles and advanced technical skills that are highly sought after in today’s evolving industrial landscape.
At its core, the West-MEC Advanced Manufacturing curriculum introduces students to a wide range of topics that reflect the future of manufacturing. Beginning with an exploration of how artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning, and robotic process automation are transforming production processes, students quickly move into hands-on work with essential systems including electrical circuits, hydraulics, pneumatics, and programmable logic controllers (PLCs).
A particularly unique aspect of the West-MEC experience is the cleanroom simulation training, which prepares students for work in highly controlled environments like those found in semiconductor fabrication and pharmaceutical manufacturing. This exposure gives participants insight into precision, contamination control, and quality requirements that are essential in advanced technical fields.
Completion of the Advanced Manufacturing program can lead to a number of industry-recognized certifications, such as NC3 credentials at various levels, Universal Robots certification, and the KUKA CORE certification. These credentials not only validate technical skills for future employers but also strengthen a student’s competitiveness for employment and post-secondary education opportunities.
Career pathways for program completers are broad and growing. Graduates may pursue roles as robotics technicians, automation specialists, PLC programmers, industrial maintenance technicians, mechatronics technicians, cleanroom technicians, and quality control technicians, among others. Many of these positions intersect with smart manufacturing and industrial Internet of Things (IoT) applications, placing students at the forefront of technological innovation.
The investment in West-MEC’s facilities underscores its commitment to workforce development. New advanced manufacturing labs, including cleanroom spaces and specialized equipment, have been added at the Northeast Campus to enhance hands-on learning and better align training with industry demand.
The West-MEC Advanced Manufacturing program blends rigorous technical education with real-world experience, offering motivated high school students an exceptional pathway into the future of manufacturing technology and automation.
Western Maricopa Education Center - West-MEC
1617 W. Williams Dr.
Phoenix
(623) 435-4920
west-mec.edu
