Manufacturing has an immediate critical need for qualified technology-trained professionals. Today's high-tech jobs require personnel trained in advanced design, manufacturing and PLM. Achieving this requires community colleges and industry to partner in developing strong technology programs that incorporate skills training and job-related theory. This approach to cultivating highly trained and recruited employees will help revitalize manufacturing.

This “Grow Your Own” white paper details a best practice, involving Iowa Western Community College (IWCC), Siemens PLM Software, and multiple community and industry partners. It outlines the crucial roles of academia, industry and community-based partnerships and processes that resulted in development of an innovative program for a two-year associate’s degree. An advanced technology program fills immediate and emerging gaps for employees with PLM skills.

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