COD Hosts Fifth Annual Manufacturing Technology Expo

College of DuPage recently welcomed approximately 280 high school students for the fifth annual Manufacturing Technology Expo.

Click here to view photos from the event.

"This event provides a great opportunity to introduce high school students to a broad range of expanding and rewarding career paths available to workers in manufacturing and technical fields," said Manufacturing Technology program Coordinator Jim Filipek. "There is a wide skills gap between the amount of jobs and the amount of people trained to do them and COD is consistently contacted by area employers looking for employees. This shows that there is a great need in the industry and there are not nearly enough workers being trained to fill these high-powered positions."

During the expo, students from area high schools, including Addison Trail, Downers Grove North, Fenton, Glenbard East, Glenbard South, Lake Park, Metea Valley, Naperville North, Wheaton Academy and Willowbrook high schools learned about various career paths in manufacturing and engineering. The students met with local manufacturing employers, including Avanti Engineering, Bales USA, JD Norman, Laser Technologies, OSG Tap and Die, Power Packaging, Spraying Systems Co. and Valid USA, and attended breakout sessions, including a presentation about automation from FANUC America Robotics. In addition, the students toured the College's state-of-the-art manufacturing facilities and visited a local employers for a hands-on, close-up look at a professional manufacturing environment.

The Manufacturing Technology program at College of DuPage provides hands-on state-of-the-art training in a wide variety of skill areas of product manufacturing and services and offers degrees and certificates automated manufacturing systems, drafting and design, manufacturing technology, and manufacturing engineering technology.

Click here for more information about the Manufacturing Technology program at College of DuPage.

College of DuPage is regionally accredited by the Higher Learning Commission. Serving approximately 27,000 students each term, College of DuPage is the largest public community college in the state of Illinois. The College grants nine associate degrees and offers more than 170 career and technical certificates in over 50 areas of study.

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