Check out high-tech automated manufacturing machinery, hear from regional manufacturers and discover how American manufacturing is flourishing – all at the Southwestern Illinois College Manufacturing Day celebration.

SWIC will open its doors for a Manufacturing Day Open House — Friday, Sept. 23, from
8 a.m. to 2 p.m. — to showcase new technology, educational programs, career opportunities, products and services. The SWIC Sam Wolf Granite City Campus, 4950 Maryville Road, will serve as the event hub for the day.

More than 1,300 local high school students are scheduled to attend.

The celebration is free and open to the public. The welcome ceremony begins at 9 a.m.

“Our goal is to show students and the community what great opportunities are available in technical education at SWIC and that there is an abundance of well-paying, secure careers in manufacturing right here in the Metro East,” said SWIC Dean of Technical Education Brad Sparks.  

At the opening ceremony, Andrew Crowe, founder of the New American Manufacturing Renaissance, a movement to revitalize American manufacturing, will serve as the keynote speaker. SWIC winners of national Department of Defense Project MFG competition will be recognized by Project MFG representatives and SWIC national SkillsUSA medal winners will be recognized by representatives of Illinois SkillsUSA.

At the open house, visitors can tour the Precision Machining Technology, Electrical/ Electronics, Heating Ventilation, Air Conditioning and Refrigeration, and Welding Technology labs. Plus, they can see first-hand how cutting-edge computerized machining and robotic welding equipment is changing technical education and manufacturing.

Also, visitors can try their hands at virtual welding, enjoy 3D printing demonstrations, meet more than 30 local manufacturers and tour a local manufacturing facility.

This event in presented in partnership with the Gene Haas Foundation, Granite City Economic Development Department, IMEC – Illinois Manufacturing Excellence Center, Leadership Council Southwestern Illinois, Madison County Employment and Training, St. Clair County Intergovernmental Grants Department and the Southwestern Madison County Chamber of Commerce. For additional information, visit swic.edu/mfgday or call the SWIC Technical Education Division at 618-931-0600, ext. 7476.

The Southwestern Illinois College Integrated Manufacturing team took first place at the Department of Defense Project MFG National Competition at Wichita State University May 10-13. Congratulations to students Connor Barnard, Brendan Caswell and Jacob Ing, plus faculty members Mark Bosworth, Jerry Bonifield and Dave Berry. The team designed and created a complex part using advanced multi-axis CNC technology. The goal of the event is to promote advanced manufacturing and highlight the critical need for these careers.

For more information about the SWIC Precision Machining Technology program, visit swic.edu/pmt.

Hard work and dedication have paid off for a Southwestern Illinois College Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning and Refrigeration student.

Isaac Sinn of Coulterville was chosen by the college’s HVAR program for the Head of Class award. Presented by tool supplier, Malco, the award recognizes perfect attendance, class participation and a willingness to learn. Sinn was recommended for the award by instructors.

“This is a great program with great instructors,” Sinn said. “I’m gaining a lot of knowledge in the program and earning a degree will be beneficial in starting my career.”

Sinn is pursuing his Associate in Applied Science degree in Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning and Refrigeration.

“He’s a really dedicated student,” said HVAR Program Coordinator Keith Otten. “We’re very proud of the work he’s doing in the program and he’s a great example for other students.”

SWIC offers a two-year, 72-semester-credit Associate in Applied Science degree and a one-year, 45-semester-credit certificate in Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning and Refrigeration.

 For more information on the SWIC HVAR program, call Otten at 618-931-0600, ext. 5175 or visit https://www.swic.edu/academics/career-degrees/hvacr/.

Once again, Southwestern Illinois College Industrial Training programs have shown their mettle in metal.

The SWIC Precision Machining Technology program received reaccreditation from the National Institute for Metalworking Skills recently. This accreditation signifies that the SWIC programs maintain industry standards for machinist training.

It is the third consecutive time SWIC has received the accreditation since the standard was established by NIMS in 2009. Accreditation will last through 2026.

“We’ve worked hard to make sure our students receive the state-of-the-art training needed to work in industry,” said Industrial Technology Program Coordinator Mark Bosworth. “We’re proud to continue to work with NIMS to maintain our accreditation.”

SWIC offers an Associate in Applied Science degree in Precision Machining Technology, plus certificates in CNC Machining, Mastercam software, SolidWorks software and Advanced CNC Programming, Precision Machining Technology.

SWIC is rated highly in all eight evaluation criteria: Program Purpose; Facilities; Equipment, Tooling, and Measuring Devices; Program Features; Administration and Management; Instructional Staff; Student Credentials; and Program Advisory Committee.

SWIC programs will maintain their NIMS Machining Level I National Standard rating. Additionally, students can use their training at SWIC to earn NIMS machining credentials.

For more information on SWIC Industrial Technology programs, call 618-931-0600, ext. 7475.

Just in time for National Apprenticeship Week 2021, Nov. 15-19, Southwestern Illinois College has earned its certificate of registration in the U. S. Department of Labor’s National Apprenticeship Program. As a registered apprenticeship sponsor, SWIC will be able to help employers in the region develop apprenticeship programs to serve their hiring needs with a minimum of red tape.

A registered apprenticeship is the gold standard of workforce development, combining on-the-job training with related classroom instruction and attention to “soft” skills such as leadership, cooperation, teamwork, and work ethic.  

“Apprenticeship really has something for everyone, and that’s what makes it such an attractive workforce strategy,” said Mike Conley, SWIC’s director of workforce development and career pathways. “Employers improve recruitment and retention, and boost productivity. Employees have opportunities for high-wage careers, and educational institutions help reinforce the imperative of high-quality training.”

The commitment from employers helps build greater loyalty, job satisfaction, and a sense of accountability. Employees have access to proven training methods in both the technical skills of a career and the specific requirements of an individual company.

The college’s role in the process, Conley explained, is both as a training provider and a facilitator for apprenticeship programs, especially for small companies that may not have the resources to build their own programs. 

SWIC will coordinate apprenticeship programs in the occupations of General Machinist, Shipping and Receiving Clerk, Dock Worker (warehousing), Welder, Pharmacist Assistant, and Aircraft Maintenance Technician. Conley emphasized that the college will likely expand that list significantly in the future, based on demand from employers. Being a registered sponsor means the college also has access to the Department of Labor’s Registered Apprenticeship Partners Information Management Data System and its resources.

 “Statistically, 94 percent of apprentices continue to work for the same company after the apprenticeship has ended,” Conley said. “More than 90 percent of companies who have tried apprenticeship would recommend it to their peers.”

Successful apprenticeship programs are being launched throughout the nation in fields as varied as manufacturing, healthcare, information technology, insurance and financial services, hospitality, and retail trade, among others.

“U.S. businesses are enjoying record demand for their services and products, but they can’t maintain enough supply to satisfy it, and a big reason for that is a lack of human capital,” Conley said. “Apprenticeship is simply the most effective way to meet the workforce needs as well as the demand for services and products.”

A list of resources and events for the week is available at ApprenticeshipIllinois.com.

For more information about SWIC apprenticeship programs, contact Conley at 618-235-2700, ext. 5139, or michael.conely@swic.edu.

Southwestern Illinois College students earned bronze medals at the 2021 National SkillsUSA competition held in July. SWIC students, from left to right, include Bryce Griggs of Granite City, Alex MidKiff of Belleville, Billy Laycock of Marine, Philip Culiberk of Maryville, Steven Boss of O’Fallon and Will Andersen of St. Louis.  Laycock, MidKiff and Andersen won as a team in Automated Manufacturing Technology; Boss earned a medal for CNC Milling; and Culiberk took his prize in the CNC Technician category. Griggs competed at the state level but was unavailable to compete at the national level. Andersen said the most challenging part about the competition was coordinating all of their efforts so they worked together smoothly as a team. SkillsUSA is a national technical education organization that partners educators, employers and students to teach greater skills to Americans. The SkillsUSA Championships are competitive events showcasing the best career and technical education students in the nation. Due to COVID restrictions, competitors completed their projects at their respective colleges. SWIC Precision Machining students have won 13 national machining medals in the last 10 years, the most by any college in the country.