LIMA — The University of Northwestern Ohio on Thursday announced the addition of a new robotics and automation associate’s degree to its curriculum, a program officials hope will strengthen the university and create a workforce of technicians who will fill a void in industries throughout the region.
“Over the next 10 years, there’s going to be approximately 3.5 million jobs nationwide needed to fill the lack of qualified technicians,” UNOH President Jeffrey Jarvis said at a news conference announcing the program. “We’re very proud to be on the leading edge and offer the first program in this region for these jobs.”
Robotics and automation technicians customize, maintain and repair robots in automated manufacturing plants and other settings. While engineers design the robots, technicians provide service throughout the life of the robot, increasing efficiency and prolonging its use. Certified technicians can work in automotive, building, farming, food processing, medical, homeland security and medical fields, among others. The average salary of a robotics and automation technician is $52,650, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Kevin Kahle, vice president/general manager at B-K Tool & Design, said the manufacturers his company builds robotic systems for, such as Honda, are struggling to find technicians who can maintain this equipment.
“The equipment is getting more difficult to maintain and operate, and we need that skill set to fill that void,” Kahle said. “The hope would be that this program would fill that niche that’s very much needed in the area.”
The demand for these jobs is so great that representatives from the manufacturing industry were the ones who initially approached UNOH to develop this degree program.
Allen Economic Development Group CEO Jeff Sprague said he is hopeful the program will ultimately improve the county’s economy by creating more jobs and bringing businesses to the area.
“It will allow recruiters to bring people in from a number of different states and foreign counties to go through the training and hopefully, at the end, make Lima-Allen County their home as they find jobs that keep them here,” Sprague said. “This will help grow our economic base.”
UNOH can train up to 120 students in the 21-month robotics and automation program. Applications are currently being accepted, and interested students can sign up at unoh.edu. The program is expected to begin on Jan. 4, 2016.
Students in the program will take courses in the newly renovated robotics building, which used to house Classic Stereo. Tom Grothous, dean of the college of applied technologies at UNOH, said he expects the program will outgrow the building in five to six years.
“We’re looking for the robotics program to be as big as our automotive department,” Grothous said.
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