Canadian manufacturers are facing a shortage of well-educated, skilled workers. The problem is particularly acute in the Greater Toronto Area where manufacturing often makes up a significant proportion of the jobs in the community.
The Sheridan Centre for Advanced Manufacturing and Design Technologies addresses this critical shortage of skilled workers and produces graduates who can work capably with the advanced technology and systems being used by manufacturers to increase productivity.
Specific skills in demand include:
- Skilled tradespersons, particularly those with multi-skill integration, communications skills and the ability to work in the multidisciplinary teams characteristic of advanced manufacturing environments.
- Technicians and technologists with integrated skills sets, greater understanding of computer integrated manufacturing and continuous improvement techniques, and the ability to work effectively in engineering teams.
- Managers who are familiar with advanced manufacturing techniques, skilled in adapting to change and able to manage the adaptation of business processes and workforce skills.
Graduates of the Centre will be able to use their understanding of the interface between technology, processes and people to enhance the Canadian manufacturing industry's capacity to innovate and stay ahead of the competition in a global market.