Advanced Manufacturing Academy

Academy Goal

Create an advanced manufacturing academy to equip students with the knowledge and skills revolutionizing the manufacturing industry in Southwest Wisconsin.

Academy Curriculum

Course 1 - Intro to Mechatronics
Topics: Safety | Introduction to Industry 4.0 AC/DC Electricity | Pneumatics | Robotics Electrical Relay Control | Measurement Print Reading | Mechanical Drives Electronics Sensors | Hand Tools Skill Boss Projects

Course 2 - Intro to Industrial Control Systems
Topics: Industry 4.0 | Mechanical Drives Fluid Power | Electronic Sensors Electrical Relay Control | PLC’s | CNC Programming Robot Programming | Mechatronic Systems Ethernet Network Communications Skill Boss Projects

Course 3 – Intro to Industrial Robotics
Topics: Robot Safety | Robot Components Teach Pendants | Coordinate Systems | Jogging Fault Recovery | Frames | Programs & Files Digital Twin | Robotic Simulation

Course 4 – Intro to IIoT
Topics: IIoT Applications | Lean Production Barcode Systems | Network Performance Network Security | RFID | Smart Sensors Database Concepts | Production Stats Troubleshooting

Smart Automation Certification Alliance (SACA) Certifications Earned
Certified Industry 4.0 Associate - Basic Operations
Certified Industry 4.0 Associate - Advanced Operations
Certified Industry 4.0 Associate - Robot System Operations
Certified Industry 4.0 Associate - IIoT, Networking & Data Analytics

Kickstarted by a $50,000 award from a Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation (WEDC) Fab Lab Grant in 2023, this phased project provides advanced manufacturing skills and enriches learning with real world experiences such as job shadowing, industry tours, and career camps. This project aligns with the goals of the Workforce Innovation Grant awarded to CESA 3, Southwest Wisconsin Technical College, and the University of Wisconsin – Platteville, which is focused on education and training for the manufacturing industry.

Academy Timeline

• In the Fall of 2024, the Advanced Manufacturing Academy pilot program will be offered to River Valley High School students.

• In  the Fall of 2025 and moving forward, the AMYA Academy will be available to students from multiple rural areas.

See the NBC 15 news coverage of the River Valley Advanced Manufacturing Academy Open House here.

To learn more about the Advanced Manufacturing Academy, please feel free to contact Jessica Helms, CESA 3 Youth Apprenticeship Coordinator, at jhelms@cesa3.org or 608-822-2141.