August 21, 2024  If only Henry Ford could see how technology has transformed manufacturing!  The founder of Ford Motor Company was known for his assembly line methods and likely would be intrigued by what manufacturing and production looks like now.  “So much of manufacturing and production are technology-driven today,” said Patrick Van Otteren, associate professor of electrical/controls technology at Grand Rapids Community College. “The field is growing exponentially and the technology is changing fast. Employers are eager to hire people who can keep everything running.”  That’s why GRCC offers two options for people seeking more education in industrial maintenance technology. Both programs are offered at the Main Campus in Grand Rapids, as well as at the Lakeshore Campus in Holland.  “Our certificate program teaches someone the skills they need to work as an industrial maintenance technician,” Van Otteren said. “We cover networking, robotics, programmable logic controllers, touchscreens, industrial electricity and much more.”  A student who is working while going to school can typically complete the  certificate in one year. GRCC also offers an  industrial maintenance technology associate degree . The degree incorporates general education courses along with technical skills courses. Students typically complete it in two or three years. Van Otteren stresses that students who complete their studies at GRCC graduate with the skills employers want.  “We stay in sync with manufacturers through our advisory committee, and I also visit local businesses to understand their needs,” Van Otteren said. “For example, networking between systems is the hot need right now, so we are getting deeper into that. Keeping our technology current requires a lot of time but the payoff for our students is huge. They will have hands-on experience with all the latest versions of manufacturing or production hardware and software. Once they learn the basic principles of one system, they can easily learn others.”  GRCC’s industrial maintenance technician programs give students plenty of hands-on experience.  “A large percentage of our students come to us because they are already in an  apprenticeship program ,” Van Otteren said. “We have a mechatronics line in the classroom. Students can learn how to support the mechanical side — hydraulics, pneumatics and motor replacement. They can also focus on the electrical side — replacing sensors, monitoring and maintaining touchscreens. All of this learning allows them to maintain uptime in a manufacturing or production environment, which is essential for business.”  Van Otteren says that the industrial maintenance technician field is red-hot. An industrial engineering technician with an associate degree can earn from $22.51 to $39.77 per hour according to the  West Michigan Works! 2024 Hot jobs list .  “I like to call this a ‘target rich’ environment,” Van Otteren said. “If you complete the program and have motivation, you will get a job.”  Learn more about industrial maintenance technician programs at GRCC . This story was reported by Julie Hordyk.