Right Skills Now for Manufacturing

Program Fact Sheet/Courses (pdf file) | e-mail program | Gainful employment page for program

Next start: August 2013. To apply, call Dunwoody Admissions at 612-374-5800.

The Right Skills Now (for Manufacturing) certificate is designed to provide fast-track, high-skilled manufacturing training in the following areas: job planning, benchwork, materials, manual milling, manual turning, CNC milling and CNC turning. This program was designed as a partnership between the President's Jobs Council, the manufacturing industry and Dunwoody College to address the current shortage of CNC operators. Graduates from this program are prepared to enter the industry as entry-level manual and CNC machine tool operators. The RSNM curriculum is closely aligned with standards set forth by National Institute of Metalworking Skills (NIMS).

CNC Operators operate computer-controlled machine tools such as lathes, drills and milling machines. The average hourly wage for CNC Operators in Minnesota is $18.90 (source: The Bureau of Labor Statistics).

Program Details: The program is 24 weeks long and broken down into 18 weeks of classes and hands-on lab work at Dunwoody followed by a 6 week paid internship and one additional class. Graduates earn a Dunwoody Certificate as well as a set of NIMS (National Institute of Metalworking Skills) credentials that are recognized across the industry.

Financial Aid: This certificate program is eligible for federal and state financial aid.

Further Education: Graduates can articulate their certificate into one semester of credit towards an Associate of Applied Science degree in Machine Tool Technology from Dunwoody. In addition, Dunwoody offers a two-year bachelor’s completion degree in Industrial Engineering Technology for any manufacturing related AAS graduate.

This certificate program is a pilot program by Dunwoody College of Technology and South Central College and is part of the Right Skills Now initiative. Right Skills Now is a partnership of The Manufacturing Institute, ACT, the National Institute of Metalworking Skills, and the President’s Council on Jobs and Competitiveness.