Manufacturing Pathway
Why Choose A Career in Manufacturing?
Think about a world where robotics, semiconductors and lasers are part of the everyday tools used on the job. Think about operating drill presses, plasma cutters and milling machines. Think about troubleshooting a problem on a piece of equipment and determining why it doesn't work properly.
If you travel down the Manufacturing Pathway you could find yourself using high tech drills to design and ultimately manufacture fancy rims on cars, playing a critical role in quality assurance for a burgeoning company or working in the underbelly of a ship as a pipe fitter or plumber.
If you could spend hours taking apart machinery just to understand and appreciate how the different components work, then this could be the pathway for you.
Do you enjoy all types of engineering? Do you like the hands-on experience of working in the field? Are you good at reading blueprints? Manufacturing today draws on strong academic and manual skills and craftsmen are adept at using computers and technology to operate machinery.
Consider a job as an environmental engineering technician, chemical, mechanical or electrical engineer, machinist, millwright or plumber. Still not sure? Not to worry as there are more jobs focused on Manufacturing.
Pathway
For a plan of study that should serve as a general guide throughout your career path, see the Plan of Study.
- High School Expectations
- Find out what you need to be studying now. Information about earning college credit and career related learning experiences.
- Preparing for College
- How prepared are you? Learn about college expectations at PCC and beyond.
Occupations
Click on the occupations below and read the job description. You can also explore resources on the Oregon Labor Market Information System (OLMIS) website. Once at the website, click on the “full report” and view the employment outlook, current job openings, industry licensing information, wage information and skills employers want for specific occupations.
| Industry Specific Certificates, On the Job Training (OJT) | Associates Degree | Bachelor’s Degree | Master’s Degree or Higher |
|---|---|---|---|
Related Resources
- Industry Certifications include specialties recognized by the
- American Welding Society
- American Electronics Association
- Society of manufacturing Engineers
- National Society of Professional Engineers
- Society for Maintenance and Reliability Professionals
- American Society of Quality Assurance
- Certified Quality Engineer (CQE)
- Certifications
- Certified Quality Engineer (CQE)
- Certified Electronic Technician (CET)
- Certified Industrial Technologist (CIT)
- Certified Professional Chemical Engineer (CPChE)
- BAT Apprenticeship
- Boilers, hydraulics, pneumatics and pump repair
- Certified Professional Logistician
- Professional Organizations
- National Association of Manufacturing – manufacturing professional association
- Association for Manufacturing Technology - The Association For Manufacturing Technology represents and promotes the interests of American providers of manufacturing machinery and equipment.
- American Society of Quality - this professional association advances learning, quality improvement, and knowledge exchange to improve business results, and to create better workplaces and communities worldwide.
- Association for Computing Machinery - ACM delivers resources that advance computing as a science and a profession. ACM provides the computing field’s premier Digital Library and serves its members and the computing profession with leading-edge publications, conferences, and career resources.
- International Society for Measurement and Control - Founded in 1945, ISA is a leading, global, nonprofit organization that is setting the standard for automation by helping over 30,000 worldwide members and other professionals solve difficult technical problems, while enhancing their leadership and personal career capabilities.
- Society of Manufacturing Engineers - The mission of the Society of Manufacturing Engineers is to be internationally recognized by manufacturing practitioners, companies and other organizations as their source for information, education and networking.
- American Welding Society - The American Welding Society (AWS) was founded in 1919 as a multifaceted, nonprofit organization with a goal to advance the science, technology and application of welding and related joining disciplines.
