(ROSENBERG, Texas) – One of the most important parts of any job is to know the equipment you are working with. But what if the equipment does not turn on or breaks? Knowing how to fix the equipment and machines used to make products is a job in and of itself. And teaching students that skill set is what Texas State Technical College’s Industrial Systems program is all about.
From programming programmable logic controllers to troubleshooting hydraulics systems, students in the program learn how to do it all. The end result is an expansive knowledge of various systems that they might encounter as maintenance technicians.
“I feel like most of what I do is teach people how to learn,” said Larry Jenkins, an instructor in the program at TSTC’s Fort Bend County campus. “When you get out into a hands-on occupation like this, things are changing, and having the skill set to learn is a huge asset.”
While having to know such a broad range of information can be daunting, in actuality it allows for greater flexibility in a career.
Brian Weakley, another instructor in the same program, finds that companies often are looking for technicians with one skill in particular but that having more than one can open up doors that might otherwise be closed.
“I tell my students to really think about who they want to work for,” Weakley said. “With so many looking to hire, it is simply a matter of where you want to live and who you want to work for.”
Companies that have hired students from the program include names such as Altec Industries, Frito-Lay, Koenig & Bauer, and Parking Guidance Systems.
Students can choose to pursue one of two Associate of Applied Science degrees or two certificates of completion in Industrial Systems at TSTC, depending on campus location.
Registration continues for the fall semester at TSTC. For more information, go to tstc.edu.