The Production & Manufacturing Institute
Manufacturing Institute
Program Details
MANUFACTURING INSTITUTE (High School)
How It Works
Choose the 1-Week or 3-Week Program Option
Looking for info on the Middle School Trades Week? Click Here
Program Summary
If you want to explore the trades as a career path, this is your chance.
For High School Students
(Incoming Sophomores, Juniors, Seniors)
Students in high school who will be in grades 10-12 in the 2025-26 school year can apply for the Institute.
You'll work in teams to design, make, and sell products through the program. We teach you about tools, processes, operations, and other steps to safely manufacture the goods. You'll need to work with your team to figure it out.
Your team will be given quotas to meet. You'll work to make products (to our standards), use our business model to sell, and then see the direct benefits of your hard efforts. As you learn about productivity, ingenuity, performance, quality, and teamwork, you'll learn, earn, and have fun.
Along the way, we introduce you to several companies in the area. You'll meet professionals, executives, and mentors to provide real-world experience. We'll also take you on tours to many locations so you can see many career pathways and opportunities in different company settings.
You do a lot. We give a lot. You won't be disappointed.
What Do We Do?
We pack in a lot! The first week, we'll train you on tools, safety, design, modeling, prototyping, and other functions related to production, engineering, design, and management. The second and third week will be all about production. Along the way, we introduce you to executives and professionals, take you on tours, expose you to specific skills like welding and machining, and show you different careers.
New This Year: 2 Options
In the past, we've had some who wanted to try it out, but couldn't attend all 3 weeks. This year, we are providing two options.
1. Full 3-Week Program
You'll attend the first week as you learn about tools, procedures, modeling, and prototyping in preparation for production. In Week 2, your team begins to manufacture products to sell. You'll apply what you learn and expand your skills by managing products, quality, and outcomes. Along the way, you and your team must solve problems, innovate, and achieve goals. You'll tour manufacturers to see what they do and what careers are available. But perhaps the best part in the moment is...you'll be eligible for incentives, prizes, and elective high school credit.
(Successful completion of Week 1 is required to continue to Weeks 2 and 3.)
2. 1-Week Only Program
Participants can choose to attend ONLY the FIRST WEEK. You'll still work in teams to learn tools, processes, and operations as well as modeling and prototyping. You'll also visit a manufacturer and be exposed to welding and machining. We'll bring in executives and professionals to share their insights. In the end, you'll receive a certificate (upon successful completion) that demonstrates your achievement.
Week 1 Details
Classes are held at Spokane Colleges.
The first week will be held at Spokane Community College. All participants from regional locations will attend the first week in Spokane. Distant locations will attend locally. Bussing will be made available, and information will be provided to attendees.
Students must attend all sessions on time and be prepared for class (including those at SCC). The curriculum will include (but isn't limited to):
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Intro to Welding
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Intro to Machining
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Overview of Operations
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Quality Management
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Intro to Tools, Power Tools
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Safety Training
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Best Practices in Manufacturing
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Addresses from Top Business Leaders
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Interactions from Industry Professionals
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Team Engagement
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Interaction with Faculty
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Live Projects for Hands-On Application
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Experience to Prepare for Careers
Students may select either the 1-Week Program (above) or the 3-Week Program (below).
Should you decide after Week 1 to continue, additional enrollment is subject to space availability, successful completion of Week 1, and tuition payment.
Weeks 2 & 3 Details
Classes are held at Various Locations
The next two weeks (for those in the 3-week program) are held at individual locations. Currently, we have Institute locations at:
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West Valley High School (includes East Valley HS program)
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Newport High School
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Cheney High School (includes Ritzville HS program)
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Ferris High School
You do not need to be a student at those locations to attend the Institute.
Weeks 2 and 3 are all about application. You'll work with your team to manufacture and sell. This gives you a hands-on experience to understand what the industry and working in the trades is all about.
We introduce and expose you to:
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Manufacturing Operations
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Team Management
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Sales and Marketing
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Accelerated Problem Solving
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Additional Trips to Companies
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Visits from Executives
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Business Management
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Career Preparation
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Opportunities to Earn Prizes and Stipends
Spaces are limited by location. Once the spaces are filled, you'll be given the option (if accepted) to attend another location or be placed on a waiting list.
We Do a Lot
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Learn by doing. You learn about careers in engineering, manufacturing, engineering, management, assembly, and more.
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Manufacture. You' work with a product team that designs, manufactures, and sells products to real customers.
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Visit Companies. You visit companies, professionals, and leaders to learn about what's out there.
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Get the "Inside Track." You learn about the industry, how to prepare for your career, and what it takes to succeed.
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Benefit for Life. We give you practical experience and a head start that will benefit your entire career.
What You Get Out of It
That depends on what you put into it.
Those who demonstrate hard work and commitment gain the most. They find ways to learn new things about the industry, careers, and processes they can add to their toolkit.
Some of the benefits include:
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Working directly with industry professionals.
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Hands-on instruction
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Exposure to many career pathways and shown how to pursue them
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High school credit (.5 Elective Credits granted by most high schools for work completed. Check with your high school counselor for details.)
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Rewards!! You can participate in a points program to earn valuable incentives.
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Exclusive tours of companies and colleges designed to accelerate your career.
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New friends as you work as a company.
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Opportunity to earn stipends based on profitability and performance.
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Swag - lots of t-shirts, bags, and materials.
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Industry exposure and training unique to this program.
Success Skills
Some call them "soft skills" or "durable skills." Employers know that these are VALUABLE skills they seek. We help you develop them at the Institute.
Employees with skills in interpersonal communication, teamwork, problem-solving, critical thinking, and leadership are highly valued.
These skills will set you apart and help you accelerate no matter your career interest. You'll promote faster, earn more, and achieve goals better when you master success factors.
Technical Skills
You don't need to have technical skills to join us. Part of the experience is to gain exposure to tools, techniques, and processes to see if it's of interest.
We won't make you a master technician or welder in 3 weeks. However, we will introduce you to MANY hand tools, power tools, and manufacturing skills.
You'll learn the essentials of production operations, quality, profitability, and more. Each product is different, so some gain specific expertise, but everyone gains new technical skills no matter their experience.
Other Things We Cover
Some of the things we cover are:
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Product Design
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Shop Production
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Quality Management
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Intro to Engineering Concepts
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Production Planning
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Demand Management
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Process Improvement
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Customer Service & Sales
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Marketing & Promotion
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Technical Skills
...and much more!!
Download Our 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.