Industrial Automation and Robotics

This program prepares students for jobs in the robotic industry related to the diagnostics, repair, maintenance,and integration of complex equipment. Robotic jobs can be found within the fields of research and development (R&D), manufacturing, industrial production, distribution logistics, and the biomedical and medical industries. Disciplines of study include, programmable logic controllers(PLC), motors and controllers, direct and alternate current circuits, hydraulic and pneumatic systems, and industrial robotic applications.

Today’s advanced manufacturing industries, distribution centers, and medical research facilities are increasingly dependent on robotic systems to provide highly accurate and uninterrupted throughput. With this inherent dependence on highly complex equipment, specialized robotic technicians are highly sought after and are increasingly employed within these facilities. DVC’s industrial automation and robotics graduates will provide highly qualified robotic technicians who can problem solve for a variety of technical diagnostic areas.

DVC’s students will utilize state of the art equipment needed to integrate robotic equipment into advanced production and specialty systems. Courses will introduce the basic operations of robotic equipment and autonomous systems, with an emphasis on hydraulics and pneumatics, electronics, and programmable logic controllers (PLC).  Students will also learn how to practice safety within high-tech facilities as they troubleshoot and repair electromechanical systems and components. An emphasis on quality control standards and production system efficiencies is inclusive.

Graduates of this program will gain skills and knowledge in areas that include industrial hydraulics and pneumatics, electricity and electronics, machine repair, shop and field maintenance, and operational robotic programing.

To earn a certificate of achievement, students must complete each of the required courses with a “C” grade or higher.

Unduplicated Headcount	Projected Annual FTES	Annual Completers

Year 1	FA	30	SP	30	Year 1	1	30
Year 2	FA	60	SP	60	Year 2	1	60

The industrial automation and roboticscertificateprovides career and technical education goals focus on Diablo Valley College’s mission statement to support the economic development of the region through the development of a workforce that addresses high-skill, high-wage needs occupations. The certificate’s emphasis on providing students access to the latest cutting-edge robotic technology, will provide all ages of the workforce an opportunity to learn advanced technical skills that lead to well-paying careers within the Bay Area’s high growth industry sectors.    

The industrial automation and robotics certificate complements the California Community College’s vision to assist students from all backgrounds with the ability to succeed in reaching their goals and improving their families and communities. As many unskilled manual jobs are replaced by more efficient automation, these displaced workers can transition into higher earning careers by taking classes at DVC to repair, service, and program automated machines.

This new certificate and strategic industry partnerships will increase the numbers of students earning degrees and certificates, as students complete the industrial automation and robotics certificate.Our industry partnerships and recruitment initiative with our friends at the Contra Costa County Office of Education (CCCOE) will assist in eliminating achievement gaps for high school graduates. An apprenticeship program with leading industry partners, including Tesla, is also being developed for these graduating high school students. The apprenticeship program will provide full-time employment for DVC’s students accepted into the program.

Diablo Valley College’s (DVC) Engineering Technology (ENGTC) and Electronics (ELTRN) programs are combining segments of their disciplines into a robotics program to better meet the ever-changing needs of the Bay Area’s high-tech and industrial sectors. Local industries are increasingly utilizing the latest technologies and equipment to provide precision automation and uninterrupted throughput.  However, these highly complex robotic systems need constant reconfiguration, repair, and service. These local applications can be found within the research and development (R&D), advanced manufacturing (computer and automotive),distribution logistics (online shopping and retail), and biomedical and medical fields.

Diablo Valley College is seeking to address the labor demands of our high-tech industry partners who require specialized technicians to service and repair their increasingly complex automated machinery.  By combining DVC’s existing mTech (machine repair) and electronics disciplines, DVC’s proposed industrial automation and robotics program will provide graduates the skills needed to problem solve and diagnose robotic and related mechanical components. The industrial automation and robotics certificate integrates courses from DVC’s existing engineering technology and electronics certificates. Only one new applied robotics course, ENGTC-180, Applications for Industrial Robotics,will be created. 

DVC is in an excellent position to address the immediate needs of our local high-tech companies. The industrial automation and robotics certificate has been developed as a two-year program intended to provide advanced technical training and job skills required for employment in the automation and robotics fields. While the use of automation is replacing many low-paying repetitive and unskilled positions, there is an increasing demand for highly skilled laborers who can integrate and service critical robotic equipment within modern facilities.

DVC’s new industrial automation and robotics certificate will be supported by our strategic partners including Tesla and Benchmark. Benchmark continues to hire DVC’s CNC machining graduates and they utilize automated machine tending robotic technology to move parts in-and-out of their manufacturing equipment. Upon Tesla’s comprehensive inspection of DVC’s Engineering Technology and Electronics facilities, a detailed analysis, and ongoing meetings with DVC’s faculty and administration team, DVC was selected to be Tesla’s Bay Area’s community college partner.  Our industrial automation and robotics program will train their Bay Area robotics technicians to service their Fremont facility’s automation systems and 2,400 robotic arms.

With the assistance of DVC’s Workforce Development Office and Tesla’s Senior Project Managers, we are also exploring the development a robotics apprenticeship program that will train a cohort of recently graduated high school students at DVC. Inspired by their Truckee Meadows Community College (TMCC) & Giga Factory partnership, Tesla is working with DVC and the Contra Costa County Office of Education (CCCOE) to identify and recruit high school candidates into our automation and robotics program.

Course	Title	Units	Year (1, 2, or both)
CONST-110	Occupational Safety	2	1
ELECT-120	Direct Current Circuits	4	1
ELECT-130	Motors and Motor Controllers	4	2
ELECT-271	Programmable Logic Controllers	4	2
ELTRN-121	Alternating Current Circuits	4	1
ENGTC-107	Introduction to Robotics	2	2
ENGTC-160	Introduction to Industrial and Manufacturing Engineering	3	2
ENGTC-165	Machining and Manufacturing I	3	2
ENGTC-175	Hydraulic and Pneumatic Systems and Components	3	1
ENGTC-176	Mechanical Systems and Components	3	1
ENGTC-180	Industrial Robotics Applications	3	2

None

DVC’s Workforce Development Office and robotics program developer sought assistance from Mark Martin, the Regional Director for Advanced Manufacturing Workforce Development at California Community Colleges. We found that Community Colleges in the Contra Costa, Solano, Alameda, and Fremont areas only have small portions of the courses needed, but none have the entire comprehensive automation and robotics courses required for students to learn how to repair, service, and program the complex equipment found within the Bay Area’s rapidly growing automation and robotics sector. With the deputy sector navigator’s help, we were able to determine that in the immediate area, only DVC had all the needed courses and equipment that were found in our existing mTech (hydraulic & pneumatics) and electronics’ programs (PLC’s and electronic diagnostic equipment). To this point, during the program’s development, Tesla inspected DVC’s facility and selected DVC as their sole community college partner to develop their Bay Area robotics apprenticeship program. Tesla will also serve as their training facility to upskill their current factory workers. No other Bay Area Community College was able to provide all the necessary courses or equipment that met their automation and robotics job training requirements. Though not conceived as a training program for Tesla, DVC’s Workforce Development officers and program developer have leveraged Tesla’s technical expertise and ongoing relationship with Truckee Meadows Community College (TMCC). Our ongoing dialog with TMCC and Tesla has provided us with a better understanding of the requirements to successfully execute the proposed Industrial Automation and Robotics program. This partnership has also enabled DVC to create a similar Pathways with our local high schools for graduating students who enter DVC’s apprenticeship program while working full-time at Tesla’s Fremont factory.