Mechatronics; a way to cure the skilled trades’ shortage

World Congress on Industrial Automation

July 20-22, 2015 San Francisco, USA

Art Meadows

Posters-Accepted Abstracts: Adv Robot Autom

Abstract :

Part of the difficultly in closing that gap is dispelling the negative stereotypes of the manufacturing industry, as well as reintroducing todayâ�?�?s youth to the art of building things. Mechatronics Training is a very important offering for the State of Alabama and a special recruitment tool and technique that reflects the evolution of the manufacturing industry. You need to attract young talent who wouldnâ�?�?t otherwise have the financial means or chance to afford a training school opportunity, but apprenticeships can be easily tailored to meet your companyâ�?�?s needs. The Alabama Robotics Technology Park (RTP) represents a leap into the future for Alabamaâ�?�?s workforce training efforts. The project is lead by Alabamaâ�?�?s workforce training agency AIDT (Alabama Industrial Development Training), which is part of the Department of Commerce.Alabamaâ�?�?s new Robotics Technology Park is collaboration between AIDT, and some of the worldâ�?�?s leading robotics, automation and welding companies. The RTP is considered one of the worldâ�?�?s most innovative and futuristic training centers. At the facility, workers from manufacturers such as Toyota, Honda and Navistar and some of our newest companies Remington and Polaris train and will train on the latest equipment from the partner vendors. We offer at â�?�?NO COSTâ�? to the Alabama companies the same training that the vendors offer at their home sites and sometimes we have more available robots than they have at the corporate office to train on. With the partnerships we have with these vendors it allows RTP to offer not only the same training but some classes are tailored to the companies specific needs at the plants. This helps new companies train employees and existing technicians and engineers and thiskeeps their skills they have at a higher level than your average technician. This is an offering coined by Mercedes Benz called a Mechatronics Technician. AIDT was the first in the USA to tackle this type of training and have produced some awesome technicians. This training is an example that should be copied all over the world.