The Production & Manufacturing Institute
Ready to Explore Your Future?
Meet manufacturing's next generation of innovators...
Don't just talk about manufacturing...LIVE IT!
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
Middle School Programs (Grades 6-8)
Tool Titans Academy - June 29-July 2
Tool Titans Academy - July 13-16
Tool Titans Academy - July 20-23
Tool Titans Academy - July 27-30
Grade School (Grades 4-5)
June 30-July 1
Questions?
Send us a quick email to support@manufacturinginstitute.net
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.
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!
What do employers want?
Check out our interview with MacKay Manufacturing
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.
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
THANKS TO OUR GRANT SPONSORS!
The 2024 Institute is partially funded by Career Connect Washington's Program Builder program grant. This allows us to work "behind the scenes" to expand the program to more locations, schools, and students. We aim to create a "franchise model" that can be used anywhere in any industry. We have been making different adjustments to our already successful program to expand it and make it even better.
Special thanks to our East Valley School District partners, who help us manage the grant and try out new approaches. We have used EVSD as the program's "headquarters" each year. Their willingness to innovate has created the foundational approach to our success.
Stevens Amendment Funding Disclosure Requirement
The Production & Manufacturing Institute receives support and funding from a U.S. Department of Labor and Career Connect Washington Program Builder (Round 10) grants. Approximately $124,500 is financed by federal allocations during 2023-24 program years, with additional program, materials, and overhead funding received from private contributions. Read more about USDOL grant funding at esd.wa.gov/usdol.
The Career Connect Washington Program Builder Grant is funded through a USDOL Grant. To learn more about funding, follow this QR code.