Industrial Manufacturing
The Industrial Manufacturing and Emerging Technologies program at South Plains College is designed to prepare graduates to proficiently perform within various specialties of the manufacturing profession including electronics, networking, machining, mechatronics and alternative energy. Students choose from a variety of specialty flexible career tracks appropriate to individual educational objectives.
To accomplish this the IMET Program utilizes courses from various other programs at South Plains College. It also allows the convenience of scheduling of time and location for a majority of its courses, with course offerings at Levelland, Reese and ATC campuses.
IMET instructors have extensive backgrounds and training in their specialized areas, and an advisory committee of experts in their field meet regularly to review the program and keep it up to date with industry and employment.
Program Degree and Certificate Options
The IMET Program offers a basic certificate, an advanced certificate and an associate degree in Industrial Manufacturing and Emerging Technologies.
The Basic Certificate is a two semester certificate which contains core courses common to all career options in the IMET Program.
The Advanced Certificate may be completed in four semesters. This certificate level allows for the selection of a flexible career specific option.
The associate degree is obtained by adding the required academic courses in mathematics, English, social or behavioral science, computer technology and speech communication to the specialized advanced certificate option.
IMET career specialties
After completing the basic certificate to continue their education IMET students will pick from one of the following flexible career specialties:
Manufacturing Machinist Technician:
Through this program students can achieve MSSC Certification in safety, quality, production process and maintenance. Students enrolled in this option will prepare for careers in the manufacturing industry including computer aided design and machining. The manufacturing machinist option is designed to train the student to operate precision machine tools. The machinist makes use of different machine tools to form various types of metal stock into usable machine parts. A machinist is skilled in the setup and operation of machine tools such as the lathe, milling machine, shaper, drill press and grinders. The machinist uses machine skills, mathematics, precision measuring and layout and metal working hand tools to mold raw metals into precision products.
Alternative Energy Technician:
Designed to train technicians to trouble shoot, service, maintain and install wind and solar energy systems; students enrolling in this option will train on units ranging from small residential to large wind and solar farm operations. Alternative energy courses will also be offered through Workforce Development for students with previous electronic and electrical training and requiring additional training.
(Mechatronics) Technician:
This option involves working with equipment that uses hydraulics, pneumatics, electrical and electronic controls. This option is ideal for students interested in entering a career in industries which contain heavy equipment such as industrial motors, generators, and hydraulic controlled equipment. These technicians would find work in industries like cotton gin management and operations, oil, gas, and electricity processing plants, as well as manufacturing maintenance.
Electronics Technician:
This option allows technicians a wide range of career options in the electronics industry. There is a big demand for electronic technicians in industries such as semiconductor manufacturing industry, biomedical electronics, communications, instrumentation, consumer and commercial electronic product servicing, manufacturing production and many other career options. Students in this option qualify to take the journeyman (CET) certified electronic technician certification exam through the Electronics Technician Association International Organization.
Network Communications Technician:
This option allows students to train as a computer and network technician in the growing computer/networking communications industry. The South Plains College Cisco Networking Academy is part of the Industrial Manufacturing Program and offers regular credit hour classes through Workforce Development. Completion of this program qualifies students to take the Comp TIA A+ and Net + Certification exams as well as the Certified Cisco Networking Associate Exam (CCNA).
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