The Production & Manufacturing Institute
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Did we change our logo?
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Yes...same excellent program, but with a new look!
About The
INSTITUTE
Participants pitch their product to "customers"
(Sean Johnson from Collins Aerospace and Thomas Gill from Greater Spokane Valley Chamber of Commerce)
Check Out What We Did
Welcome visitors to your site with a short, engaging introduction. Double click to edit and add your own text.
About the 3-Week Program
This is like nothing you've done before!
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We let you experience what it's like to be in a live production environment. You simulate real manufacturing as part of a team to plan operations, manufacture products, and sell them to customers.
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Exposure
You are exposed to manufacturers, professionals, and a network of opportunities. We introduce you to career pathways, training, education, and how to succeed. We even give you a way to earn credits for starter tools, equipment, and gear to get you started.
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Skills
We introduce you to the tools and skills needed to complete the job. It includes safety, tooling, and manufacturing procedures, as well as many interpersonal skills employers want most.
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You'll benefit greatly, no matter your interest - manufacturing, engineering, business, or you're not sure.
You'll learn to:
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Design, make, and sell products for real customers
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Use tools and processes for manufacturing.
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Work with others and develop interpersonal skills
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Get real feedback from industry professionals
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Solve problems as you face real problems
Craig Cordill from Wagstaff consults with a product team about product design, quality, and manufacturing.
Overview
OTHER INFORMATION
We're Looking for the Interested
This program is for those who are exploring careers. Students who already want a career in the trades and have a few years of shop may not gain as much. Likewise, those who just want "craft time" tend not to be successful.
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Learning and Work
Three weeks is not long to do what we do. Learning is fast, and expectations are high. We know many don't come with a background in the trades. We help them learn skills quickly - and that comes from doing.
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We expect you to "learn as you go." This requires listening, learning, responding to feedback, applying what you learn, learning from mistakes, and continuously improving.
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There is some instruction, but we leave a lot of the learning to you and your teams. Instructors explain and demonstrate and then guide and enable you to succeed. As you work together as a team to plan, organize, solve problems, and produce, you'll gain first-hand experience.
Real Work
You'll be instructed by industry professionals. Your team will design products, manufacture them, and sell to customers. This means you'll have quotas, deadlines, and quality standards. Just like the workplace, things happen along the way and you'll be expected to figure things out. As you work through changes, challenges, and stress, you'll gain unique experience.
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Do Your Part
Because of the tight deadlines, everyone on the team must do their part. Full attendance and engagement are required to make it work. As goals are met, points are earned, and rewards are accumulated.
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Visit Manufacturers
We expose students to different manufacturers. We visit multiple sites for tours and discussions about how they do things and the career opportunities available. This helps participants see manufacturing in action and in different capacities.
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Recognition
We recognize participants for their hard work at the end of the program. Graduates receive a Certificate of Completion and a $500 gift card of their choice (from options) to help prepare for their future.
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The graduation ceremony acknowledges their hard work and achievement.
Kyle Harrison of WEMCO coaches a participant on the use of welding tools and techniques.
Some Areas Covered
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Product Development
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Product Design & Basic Drafting
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Shop Production
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Intro to Engineering in Production
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Production Planning
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Demand Management
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Quality and Process Improvement
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Customers - How to Find Them
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Sales & Marketing Your Products
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Intro to Welding, Machining, & More
Your team will design, make, and sell products from start to finish...all while learning how manufacturing is done in different environments.
Mike Abbott of Hotstart guides students on continuous improvement in design and manufacturing.
Download Our New Guide!
Check out our new booklet - "Experience Manufacturing." It outlines the Institute, its background, the program's impact, and how we plan to grow. This 28-page guide shares more details about where we've been and where we're going to help better prepare high school graduates for their future.