TMCC and Panasonic Energy of North America are thrilled to announce the Advanced Manufacturing Training Center opening at 645 E. Plumb Lane. The facility’s cutting-edge technology and industry-standard equipment will prepare students to begin a career in the electric vehicle (EV) battery as production operators or maintenance technicians. With a rapidly growing demand for skilled workers across northern Nevada, this instrumental building now houses classrooms to educate the community through contemporary lessons and engaging firsthand experience. Students can expect hands-on training equipment for operating robotics and automation, computer-assisted design software, and simulated tool-cutting appliances, teaching them fundamental aspects of the profession. Primary goals include cultivating relevant knowledge, earning qualifications, and securing employment after completion.
A new interactive device known as a Skill Boss will include over 55 functions that align with the digital, data-intensive practices in today’s advanced manufacturing workplace. The Skill Boss combines electrical, fluid power, and mechanical systems to create authentic learning environments, providing instructors with immersive curriculums that actively build upon students’ abilities. How instructors spend their time in the teaching spaces reflects their passion for success, and upgrading TMCC facilities with the latest hardware is a surefire sign of putting students’ academic progress at the core of everything we do. Panasonic shares TMCC’s vision to enrich the next generation of workers by creating living-wage vocational pathways and upskilling advancement opportunities.
Basic Operations and Maintenance, MPT 101, will be leading the charge as the premier class as students identify the best procedures for safely operating units with an introduction to Human-Machine Interfaces (HMIs) and Variable Frequency Drives (VFDs) used to control appliances and sensor alignment.
Pat Jarvis, Technical Sciences Grant Manager, expressed her enthusiasm for the benefits of the Panasonic partnership across the region and the inclusive employment possibilities for its citizens, citing the activities students must master throughout the course.
“The operation of basic hand tools includes precision measurement and electrical diagnostic equipment, pneumatic valves, schematic reading, and motor installation. Additional courses will offer credentials in Advanced Manufacturing such as a Skills Certificate, third-party or industry-recognized certifications, and full Certificate of Achievement degrees,” Jarvis said.
This project, funded by the State of Nevada’s Workforce Innovations for a New Nevada (WINN) Fund, is also administered by the Nevada Governor’s Office of Economic Development (GOED) with support from the Department of Employment, Training and Rehabilitation’s (DETR) Career Enhancement Program.
“Panasonic Energy is committed to being an employer of choice in Nevada, and investing in education and talent development is a top priority,” said Allan Swan, President of Panasonic Energy of North America. “TMCC has been a phenomenal partner since we’ve been in the community, and together, we dedicate ourselves to developing an American workforce and creating opportunities that help meet production demand, build a domestic supply chain, and make EVs more accessible.”
TMCC appreciates those striving to expand access and equity to higher education and sharing opportunities with students for accessible and modern training.
“As TMCC broadens its learning potential through area expansion in innovative training such as local facilities located in the heart of the community and mobile on-site training for employers, it allows students to have a doorway to the courses necessary to provide them employability skills, access to a stackable degree program, and upward mobility,” Jarvis said.
For more information, please visit the Advanced Manufacturing website.