The Customer
Patrick & Henry Community College (P&HCC) in Martinsville, Virginia, known for its strong industrial programs, has become a prime example of a successful employer-educator model centered on Industry 4.0 preparedness. P&HCC scaled up from a solid foundation in mechatronics to innovate and evolve into what is now an award-winning Advanced Manufacturing and Skilled Trades program.
The Challenge
The manufacturing skills shortage in the US could result in 2.1 million unfilled jobs by 2030 and cost the industry $1 trillion in 2030 alone, according to a 2021 study by Deloitte and The Manufacturing Institute. Attracting and retaining workers is a top focus for 83% of the US-based manufacturing leaders surveyed, while 45% of respondents said their employers had turned down business opportunities due to a lack of workers. As a result of hiring challenges amid a persistent skills shortage, many employers are seeking candidates with industry certifications that clearly demonstrate the advanced skill sets they are looking for. In fact, workers with an industry-based certification are more likely to be employed (85%) than adults without such credentials (78%).
By making incremental investments in mechatronics equipment (Festo MPS 200, 203, 500), P&HCC eventually scaled its lab to achieve a more comprehensive approach to advanced manufacturing and Industry 4.0 career training. This growth allowed P&HCC to begin issuing multi-level certifications that offer students a direct pathway to employment.
The Approach
In the spring of 2018, P&HCC integrated the National Coalition of Certification Center (NC3) and Festo’s Industry 4.0 Certification Program (FICP) into its existing programs in mechatronics, industrial electronics technology, and general engineering technology. This opened the door for P&HCC students to earn various industry-approved certifications while working on their associate degrees.
FICP is a comprehensive certification program developed by industry experts and educators that ensures students have qualifying skills upon graduation. The certifications provide globally recognized validation of demonstrated skill sets in subject areas pertaining to mechanical systems, electrical systems, pneumatic systems, programmable logic controllers, and robotic systems. FICP can be integrated with existing certificate, associate’s and bachelor’s degree programs, and offers four levels of certifications:
STEM Certifications | Introduction
Level One Certifications | Fundamentals
- Electromechanical Technician
- Production Technician
- Industrial Maintenance Technician
Level Two Certifications | Applied
- Mechatronics Technician
- Automation Technician
- Applications Engineer
Level Three Certifications | Advanced
- Industry 4.0 Operator
- Industry 4.0 Technician
- Mechatronics Engineer
The Value - 3,000 and Counting
Now recognized by Festo as an “Industry 4.0 Center of Excellence”, P&HCC is paving promising career pathways for students in high-skilled, competitive jobs. P&HCC has issued over 3,000 FICP certifications and led the nation in industrial certifications in 2023.
“At first, our students arrive knowing very little about industrial technology. Once they can interact with the cyber-physical systems, they’re able to see and touch the result of digital transformation in modern manufacturing. They realize they’re at the forefront of something big, walking around in what looks and feels like the future. It doesn’t take long for them to see the big picture and realize the value of having access to these career pathways.”
- Daniel Edwards, instructor of industrial electronics technology at P&HCC
“We’ve had quite a few tours in our manufacturing engineering technology complex, and the quality of our labs and real world experience that students are receiving impresses the economic developers and employers who visit - they say the quality is comparable to what they have on site. It’s definitely a benefit for students, but also for employers and our community as well.”
- Rhonda Hodges, Vice President, Workforce, Economic, and Community Development for P&HCC