The assembly-line method of manufacturing has faded into Americana. Manufacturing today is a technology-driven field requiring highly trained workers. To assist with this expanding enterprise, Broward College has launched a multi-level manufacturing program designed to provide a skilled workforce to meet the needs of the South Florida manufacturing industry.
The program will offer an Associate in Science degree in manufacturing, two non-credit certificate programs for professionals already in the field and an assessment center. 

“Florida is ideal for manufacturing,” said Broward College President J. David Armstrong, Jr. “With an extensive transportation hub and the opportunity to expand the necessary workforce, the local manufacturing environment is at a great stage in its evolution.”

Manufacturing currently employs more than 307,000 workers – or 5 percent of the workforce – through the state’s 17,000 manufacturing establishments, according to Enterprise Florida.    

“We are delighted to see Broward College filling a critical educational need for their community by establishing this program,” said Nancy Stephens, executive director of the Manufacturers’ Association of Florida. “With a significant number of manufacturers in the area, Broward College will help grow this industry sector by making sure that people have the right skills to fill the jobs that are open in manufacturing.”

Florida has considerable room for growth in the manufacturing industry for a variety of reasons, including a business climate and tax structure favorable to the manufacturing industry, an infrastructure for global commerce, and research and development capabilities for advanced manufacturing for the aerospace, biomedical, information technology, defense, marine and green technology industries. 

“Manufacturing is still an industry that is underrepresented in Florida,” said Bob Swindell, President of the Greater Ft. Lauderdale Alliance. “But as we seek to diversify the Broward county economy with better skill, better wage jobs for the people who live here, manufacturing is a vital part of the mix.”

For more information on Broward College’s manufacturing program, call 954-201-7200 or visit http://www.broward.edu/academics/programs/manufacturing/Pages/default.aspx
or for a short video here http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2llkd0nYPN4&feature=youtu.be.