The Advanced Manufacturing Industry
People in the Advanced Manufacturing industry build this futuristic world we live in. They’ve put robots on Mars. If you’re interested in designing, programming, or building high-tech machines, this is the career field for you. Workers in this industry, especially those in the engineering and prototyping aspects of it, often work with computers and use advanced math problem solving skills. Those in the welding and fabricating side of it do very physical work and use basic math problem solving skills.
JRTI has three programs to prepare you for working in the Advanced Manufacturing field. You will learn about these programs in the next three lessons.
Who Works in Advanced Manufacturing?
Example Job Titles
- Aerospace Engineer
- Aeronautical Engineer
- Mechanical Engineer
- Aircraft/Spacecraft Designer
- Mechanical Engineer
- Electrical Engineer
- Industrial Engineer
- Civil Engineer
- Certified Pipe Welder
- Nuclear Welder
- Fabrication Welder
- Pipefitter
- Production Welder
Education Requirements
Although many people enter this industry without a college degree, most job listings will state that a four-year Bachelors Degree is required. A certificate from a technical school or a two-year Associates Degree can get your career started. However, higher levels of education can increase the opportunities you will have. Even if you plan to attend college, studying this field in high school can give you the foundational skills that will make your college experience easier.
Example College Programs
- Aerospace Engineering – WVU, Morgantown, WV
- Mechanical Engineering – WVU, Morgantown, WV
- Mechatronics – Blue Ridge CTC, Martinsburg, WV
- Robotics Engineering – WVU, Morgantown, WV
- Welding Engineer – WVU Parkersburg, Parkersburg, WV
- Welding Technology – Bridge Valley CTC, Montgomery, WV
- Industrial Maintenance Technology – WV Northern CC, Wheeling, WV
Frequency of Skills Used in this Field
| Skill Categories | Very Often | Often | Occasionally | Rarely |
| Hands-on/operate equipment and tools | X | |||
| Critical thinking/creative problem solving | X | |||
| Basic math problem solving | X | |||
| Advanced math problem solving | X | |||
| Computers & technology | X | |||
| Written communication | X | |||
| Interpersonal and social | X |