Smart Manufacturing and Advanced Robotics Training (SMART)
SMART is endorsed by the ARM Insitute
The SMART program consists of micro-certifications and courses that were designed to foreground industry-aligned knowledge, skills, and attitudes required of Robotics Technicians in the industry. The goal of this pre-apprenticeship program is to develop grow the workforce to be ready to enter internships, apprenticeship programs, certificate programs, and in some cases begin employment.
Micro-Certifications
During the course of this research, several different types of technicians (testing, micro-electrical, electrical, manufacturing, operations) were interviewed and observed in the industry. This was to help identify the Knowledge, Skills, and Attributes (KSA) that small and medium-sized advanced manufacturing companies would require of their technicians. Previous Data was also used from a previous Workforce Development research project (we worked with over 30 different robotics and automation companies), survey data from ARM members, and the data gathered from interviewing and observing the technicians, to create organizers that we call Micro-Certifications. The Micro-Certifications that were developed are:
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Robotics Integration – Understanding systems, and subsystems and how the different components communicate with each other.
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Electrical Foundations – Electronics concepts: wiring, series & parallel circuits, switches, crimping, and troubleshooting with a multimeter.
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Mechanical Foundations – Understanding structure, stability, strength, gear trains, drivetrains, and many foundational mechanical concepts.
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Software Foundations – Programming aspect of robotics. Being able to program movement, sensing, and program flow.
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Fabrication Foundations – Identifying tools, materials, joining materials together, drilling, and additive processes like 3D printing.
Knowledge, Skills, and Assessments Documents:
Training, Site Visits, and Community College Connections
The training of the SMART micro-certifications ran several pilots in 2019 in the Pittsburgh region with the help of the PA Department of Labor (DoL) and funding through Partner4Work. The training was carried out with local leaders of community organizations.
Site visits to local robotics and advanced manufacturing companies helped expose underserved community youth to this career path. Many of these same companies worked with us to create or validate the KSA lists.
See the SMART-ER program for more information.
Additional Funding
The Grable Foundation has graciously awarded CMRA with additional funding to expand the training and certification offerings to more regional community organizations. The funding extends and expands the SMART-ER project training.
Projects
Industry Driven Assessments
The project works with industry partners to gather data, develop assessments, and review and update training materials, classroom curricula, and competition activities.
Robotics Competition Credentials
This project has partnerships with robotics competition partners like FIRST Robotics and the Robotics Education Competition Foundation (RECF).
Robotics Technician Micro-Certifications
Participants in the project have the opportunity to earn micro-certifications that lead to industry-driven certifications.
Pre-Apprenticeship Credentials
SMART is a certified Pennsylvania pre-apprenticeship program, and is aligned to apprenticeship programs.
SMART Partners
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Government, Public & Private |
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