The Production & Manufacturing Institute
Ready to Explore Your Future?
Meet manufacturing's next generation of innovators...
Don't just talk about manufacturing...LIVE IT!
INTRODUCING...
PMI 2 - Advanced Manufacturing
ARE YOU A PMI GRAD?
If you completed the Institute and are still in high school (or just finishing), you may consider attending "Part 2" of your journey.
You'll gain in-depth experience in production, fabrication, machining, welding, and the manufacturing process from start to finish.
(Select "PMI-2" for the Program Choice)
Brought to you by The Manufacturing Institute
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Register Today!
July 2026
High School Programs (Grades 9-12)
Manufacturing Institute (3 Week Program) July 6-24
Manufacturing Certificate (1 Week Program) July 6-10 - SCC
Middle School Programs (Grades 6-8)
Tool Titans Academy - June 29-July 2 - Ferris High School
Tool Titans Academy - July 13-16 - North Idaho College
Tool Titans Academy - July 20-23 - Bowdish Middle School, Glover Middle School
Tool Titans Academy - July 27-30 - Ferris High School
Grade School (Grades 4-5)
KidsWorx - June 30-July 1 - East Valley High School
Questions?
Send us a quick email to support@manufacturinginstitute.net
EMPLOYER SPOTLIGHT
MacKay Manufacturing
What do employers want?
Check out our interview with Katie MacKay
We met with Katie MacKay, the President of MacKay Manufacturing, to learn about what they do and what they look for in their people. They have been great supporters of the Institute and schools. Watch as she tells us about the company and what makes a successful employee from their point of view.
What's New?
Some Exciting Things This Year
More Schools & Programs
We've more than doubled the expected enrollment! We are also expanding our middle school programs and launching our first program for 4th- and 5th-graders.
CTE Credit!!
We offer CTE credit (.5) through the NewTech Skills Center upon completion of our 3-week high school program.
More Areas Covered
Last year, we added CAD & 3D printing. This year, we'll expand those and add more.
More Exposure
We have more sponsors than ever, which gives our high school students access to more professionals, mentors, and companies to learn from.
5 Reasons to Sign Up
TODAY!
Available Programs
PMI
3-Week Program
Production & Manufacturing Institute Experience
3-Week Program
July 6-24, 2026
Now available for Grades 9-12 with options for all skill levels. We do everything in the Certificate program and more! Join a team where you learn to design, manufacture, and sell real products to real customers. Along the way, meet professionals, network with executives, visit manufacturers, make friends, and have fun. Oh...you can earn valuable prizes and make some money!!
Confirmed Locations:
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Spokane Community College
(First week at SCC)
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East Valley High School
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Newport High School
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Ferris High School
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Cheney High School
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Lind-Ritzville High School
PMI CERTIFICATE
1-Week Program
Production & Manufacturing Institute Certificate
1-Week Program
July 6-10, 2026
Now available for Grades 9-12. Learn a full spectrum of new knowledge and skills. You'll learn to use tools, power tools, CAD, 3D printing, welding, CNC machining, design, prototyping, and more! Work with a team to understand the manufacturing process. Explore career pathways like manufacturing, trades, engineering, and construction.
Location:
Spokane Community College
TOOL TITANS ACADEMY
1-Week Program
Middle School Trades Week
1-Week Program
July 13-17, 2026 (Other dates
July 20-24, 2026 coming soon!)
Now available for Grades 6-8. Join us for a great opportunity to learn principles of shop safety, design, hand tools, and handheld power tools. We'll help you learn to use the tools, then use what you learn to build things that you get to take home when you're done! Get t-shirts, have fun, learn new skills. What's not to love?
Confirmed Locations:
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North Idaho College (7/13-7/16)
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Bowdish Middle School (7/20-7/23)
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Ferris High School (6/29-7/2)
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Ferris High School (7/27-7/30)
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Glover Middle School (Dates TBD)
KidsWorx
2-Day Program
Grade School Manufacturing Camp
2-Day Program
June 30-July 1
Available to Grades 4-5. We'll introduce students to a new world of career and technical opportunities as they explore designing, building, and making projects. They'll be introduced to hand tools and make projects to apply what they learn. We cover the basics of tool safety and proper use. We also introduce them to safety saws designed for cardboard modeling before we let them build real projects with wood. There is something to excite everyone.
Location: East Valley HS
PMI-2: Advanced Manufacturing
2-Week Program
Advanced Manufacturing Special Program
2-Week Program
July 6-17, 2026
Available for current high school students (including those who just graduated from High School in 2026) and have successfully completed PMI previously. In collaboration with The Machinists Institute, this course will give you a deep dive into machining, welding, automation, design, and what it's like to be on the shop floor in the thick of production and manufacturing. You'll get up to your neck in the details of design, modeling, a bit of engineering, and lots of practical, hands-on, real-world application.
Location: Machinists Institute location in North Spokane
Get Workforce Ready
Have you wanted to try out new jobs to see what they're like? Now's your chance. The Institute gives you an opportunity to experience manufacturing for yourself.
Building Tomorrow's Workforce
If you're ready to EXPLORE a career in manufacturing...
this is your chance!
Hands-On Career Path Prep
Each summer, several employers, schools, and community partners sponsor the Institute. Our goal is to expose students and parents to the fantastic world of career paths in the trades.
We Do Cool Stuff!
Each summer, several employers, schools, and community partners sponsor the Institute. Our goal is to expose students and parents to the fantastic world of career paths in the trades.
We Cover the Spectrum
This experience exposes students to careers in engineering, welding, machining, quality control, production, management, and many more!
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Not Just Another Summer Program
This is different from anything you've EVER done before!
We Help You Explore the Future
You have many choices for your future pathway. We want you to enjoy a career that can support your goals. But you'll never know what's out there until you try new things.
You Get to DO Manufacturing
We believe the best way for you to know if you like a career is to try it. The Institute places you in a live setting as you work with a team to design, manufacture, and sell products while exploring businesses and careers in manufacturing.
Learn by Doing
Most of our time is spent rolling up our sleeves and doing the work.
What Do We Do?
These are just a few of the things we do...
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What Is it?
The Institute is a summer program offered by manufacturers through a partnership with schools and local agencies to provide students with real exposure to careers. We offer a variety of programs that allow students to look into careers in industries like manufacturing, aerospace, and other trades firsthand.
It doesn't matter if you don't know what you want to do. That's the point. We want those who are still looking, deciding, and want to try things out.
Now in its 6th year, PMI offers different programs in several locations. It's not a "camp" to come and be entertained. We expect a lot, we give a lot, and our graduates get a lot.
Manufacturing Institute Graduation
Congratulations to the PMI Class of 2024!
Our graduation ceremony for this year's PMI grads was on Friday, July 26, East Valley High School. We celebrated the amazing outcomes of the 3-week program and all these learners accomplished.
As a reward, graduates received a $500 stipend, a DeWalt mechanics tool kit, and lots of prizes earned throughout the program. More info will be available soon on our Picture page.
What is the Institute?
Teachers, Counselors, Businesses
Check out this video that provides an overview of what we do, why we do it, and our overall vision.
Click to Learn How to Support the Institute
Check Out Cool Careers!
The Institute is Highlighted in Jan-Feb Let's Go Aerospace!!
Participants EXPERIENCE what it's like to go into several careers and industries within aerospace and advanced manufacturing. Read Wade's recommendations to start your journey and prepare for your future. It's never too early, and it's never too late!
Get started today!
Together...
We're building the future of Manufacturing
What do we do at the Institute?
It's a shorter answer if we list what we don't do. Here are just a few of the things we explore through the program...
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Product Design
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Intro to Prototyping & Modeling
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Intro to CAD & 3D Printing
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Team-Based Approach
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Intro to Manufacturing Processes
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Production Planning & Demand
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Marketing & Sales
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Intro to Welding
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Introduction to Machining Careers
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Elements of Production Operations
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Quality & Customer Expectations
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Hands-On Equipment, Tools, Machines
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Full Production Environment
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Field Trips to Local Manufacturers
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Access to Special Scholarship from Spokane Valley Chamber Foundation for Eligible Participants
ALUMNI SPOTLIGHT
MEET DANA
Dana was part of our very first cohort in 2019. We caught up with her recently and asked her about the impact of PMI as she prepared for her role as a CNC Machinist at our sponsor MacKay Manufacturing. Here is a recap.
ALUMNI SPOTLIGHT
MEET BRYCE
Bryce was part of our first Institute. He graduated from SCC's welding program and was hired by our sponsor, Wagstaff. The Institute supported his interest in welding and helped him get started in his career! Watch Bryce share his story.
DONATIONS
We Appreciate Your Support
The Institute operates on donations. We want to support our summer program AND deliver programming to schools and kids year round... but we need your help.
We envision micro-academies, middle school programs, and other youth workforce development efforts.
Your contribution is made through our non-profit partnership with the Spokane Workforce Council. This helps us direct your contributions directly to the program.
You can contact us for more information or follow this link:
Please email us for additional information or read more on the Sponsorship page. Thanks for your support!
Thanks to Our Sponsors!
Sponsors make a difference and allow us to keep the program going.
Thanks to our Premier Sponsors
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Thanks to our Major Sponsors
The Krumble Foundation
Machining Project made by students on visit to Spokane Community College during "Machining Day."
WHY
MANUFACTURING?
Manufacturing is an important part of the economy. There are many career tracks in production, engineering, business, leadership, support, technical, and other areas.
Here are some reasons to consider manufacturing:
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Job stability: Manufacturing has a steady demand for goods and services. As long as people continue to buy things, manufacturing jobs will always be in demand.
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Good wages and benefits: Manufacturing offers good pay, health insurance, retirement plans, and paid time off. Companies provide training and promotions.
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Diverse job opportunities: Manufacturing offers many opportunities, from engineers and technicians to assemblers and machine operators. There are many opportunities for different levels of education and skill.
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Innovation: Manufacturing constantly evolves, with new technologies developed that improve efficiency and quality. It's an exciting and innovative field.
Manufacturing Matters!
Consider a career where you can make a difference. The Production and Manufacturing Institute allows you to explore the industry first-hand.
Join the Movement
Want to be a part of this movement to get kids interested in the trades?
We know youth rise to our expectations and the support we give. Join us in giving them opportunities to succeed.
Contact us today!
Production & Manufacturing Institute
Expose ● Interest ● Explore ● Prepare ● Launch
Manufacturing Pathways
Production ● Engineering ● Trades ● Construction