Making Things and Making Things Work
Welcome to the Advanced Manufacturing Technology (AMT) Department at Washtenaw Community College. If you like making things, learning how things work and making machines work for you… if you like working with the latest technology and working with your hands AND your brain, one of our programs may put you on the path to a rewarding and productive career.
The AMT department consists of several disciplines, Mechatronics, Robotics, CNC Machining, traditional machining, Fluid Power, Electricity and Electronics. We offer an Associate Degree in Mechatronics and several different certificates. Students who graduate from our programs obtain jobs as Mechatronics Technicians, Robotics Technicians, Machine Repair Technicians, Industrial Electricians, CNC Machinists and a range of other positions. They work in industries as diverse as automotive manufacturing, robot workcell development, electrical construction, renewable energy, water treatment and agriculture. Students need only high school completion level math, reading and writing to get started, though many of our students have additional specialized high school education or work experience in manufacturing or a related field. You are welcome to take our classes as part of the full Associate degree and specialty certificate, as part of a certificate or as individual classes.
We emphasize learning the theory side by side with hands on learning so you are prepared to do useful work right out of school as well as absorb new knowledge and solve new problems on your own. Almost all of our classes include a significant lab component.
Our laboratories and lab equipment are filled with the same kind of equipment you will see in industry:
- Robotics (ABB, Fanuc and Adept)
- Electrical test equipment – digital oscilloscopes, function generators and multimeters
- Programmable Logic Controllers (Allen Bradley/Rockwell SLC, ControlLogix and RSLogix)
- 3D printers
- Workcell simulation software, 3D modeling, CAD/CAM
- Fluid power (pneumatic, hydraulic, motion control)
- 3 phase, single phase and synchronous motors
- DC motors and generators
- Variable frequency drives and motor control circuits.
We are looking forward to meeting you, showing you our labs and seeing how our programs can meet your needs.
Helpful Resources
The Haas Technical Education Center Network is an industry and education led initiative that enables manufacturing technology educators and their schools to acquire the latest CNC machine tools and related CNC ancillary equipment, software and educational materials.
The International Fluid Power Society (IFPS) is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) professional organization of individuals dedicated to enhancing the quality of certifications, educational opportunities, technology evolution, and professionalism within the fluid power and motion control industry.
The Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT): the business guide to Industrial IoT
A complete guide about IIoT (the Industrial Internet of Things or Industrial IoT) with definitions, market evolutions, use cases, standardization efforts, challenges and strategic approaches across the globe.
International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers - The IBEW represents approximately 750,000 active members and retirees who work in a wide variety of fields, including utilities, construction, telecommunications, broadcasting, manufacturing, railroads and government.
Ann Arbor Electrical JATC (IBEW) – training the next generation of America’s electricians
The North American Board of Certified Energy Practitioners® (NABCEP®) is the most respected, well-established and widely recognized national certification organization for professionals in the field of renewable energy. NABCEP offers credentials for skilled professionals, specialists and those new to working in the areas of photovoltaics, solar heating and small wind technologies. NABCEP’s mission is to develop and implement quality credentialing and certification programs for practitioners by supporting and working closely with professionals and stakeholders in the renewable energy and energy efficiency industries.
How to Become an Electrician in Michigan - Michigan’s many electrical contracting companies offer skilled electricians the opportunity to work in residential, commercial and industrial environments. The number of jobs for electricians in Michigan is expected to increase by 20 percent during the ten-year period leading up to 2022 (US Department of Labor).