Motlow Earns ARM Institute Endorsement

June 27, 2022

Organizations that earn the ARM Institute’s endorsement pass a rigorous assessment process by proving that they provide students the skills needed for a career in manufacturing working with robotics.

Motlow State Community College is proud to announce that it has earned ARM Institute Endorsement. ARM Endorsement recognizes programs that prepare students for manufacturing careers working with robotics.

Motlow provides Mechatronics options, including the Mechatronics A.A.S. degree, Mechatronics A.A.S. degree with a concentration in Robotics, or a Mechatronics certificate. This high-wage, high-demand program prepares you for a career in fields such as automotive, power production, manufacturing, robotics, and more.

The ARM Institute is the nation’s leading collaborative in robotics and workforce innovation, working at the confluence of industry, government, and academia. Structured as a public-private partnership, the ARM Institute and its 300+ member organizations catalyze robotic technologies and education solutions to strengthen the U.S. industrial base and secure U.S. manufacturing resiliency. The institute is sponsored by the Department of Defense, and its diverse membership base includes start-ups, research universities, community colleges, manufacturers of all sizes, government agencies, workforce development organizations, and more.

The ARM Endorsement Program is a thorough process used to identify organizations that are the most effective at preparing students for careers in manufacturing working with robotics. The Endorsement program was conceptualized and created through the ARM Institute’s 300+-member national consortium, giving equal voice to the need of manufacturers, education providers, and government stakeholders. The program leverages the ARM Institute’s competency and skills framework that outlines the career options and skills needed for a manufacturing career working with robotics.

The endorsement criteria are comprehensive, evaluating both organizations and their programs based upon the following benchmarks:

• Relevance to the Industry
• Effective Curriculum
• Efficiency of the Training
• Impact of the Program
• Program Sustainability
• Transportability

“ARM’s endorsement of Motlow’s Mechatronics and our Automation and Robotics Training Center (ARTC) is a valuable asset for us,” said Larry Flatt, Executive Director of Automation and Robotics Training at Motlow. “It will provide greater networking opportunities for us across the nation. Additionally, it will be a mechanism to help promote the facilities and resources that are located at our ARTC.”

Motlow conducts training with certified instructors resulting in industry certifications from ABB, FANUC, and Yaskawa/Motoman, as well as leading PLC companies.

“We look forward to growing our partnership with such a prestigious organization and other entities with the same endorsement,” added Flatt.

“We are pleased to recognize elite organizations for preparing workers for Industry 4.0 careers,” noted Lisa Masciantonio, ARM Institute Chief Workforce Officer, “Effective training will be key to our nation navigating the mounting skills gap and workforce shortage in manufacturing. Recognizing top-tier programs will help students identify the best training for their desired manufacturing career.”

Endorsed programs are highlighted on RoboticsCareer.org, the ARM Institute’s national capability that connects students and workers with robotics education programs for manufacturing careers.

About Motlow State Community College

 Motlow is a public, multi-campus college in southern middle Tennessee. The College offers certificates, associate degrees, and flexible learning pathways towards a variety of bachelor’s degrees and industry-recognized training programs that lead to high-wage, high-demand careers. Visit Motlow.edu

The College’s mission is student success. It serves transfer and degree-seeking as well as non-credit students pursuing continuing education units, certifications, professional development, and industry-recognized credentials through Motlow Trained and specialized automation & robotics training.

 About the ARM Institute

The ARM (Advanced Robotics for Manufacturing) Institute is a Manufacturing Innovation Institute (MII) funded by the Office of the Secretary of Defense under Agreement Number W911NF-17-3-0004, and part of the Manufacturing USA® network. The ARM Institute leverages a unique, robust, and diverse ecosystem of consortium members and partners across industry, academia, and government to make robotics, autonomy, and artificial intelligence more accessible to U.S. manufacturers large and small, train and empower the manufacturing workforce, strengthen our economy and global competitiveness, and elevate national security and resilience. Based in Pittsburgh, PA since 2017, the ARM Institute is leading the way to a future where people and robots work together to respond to our nation’s greatest challenges and to produce the world’s most desired products. For more information, visit www.arminstitute.org and follow the ARM Institute on LinkedIn and Twitter.

Tennessee’s Community Colleges is a system of 13 colleges offering a high-quality, affordable, convenient, and personal education to prepare students to achieve their educational and career goals in two years or less. The system offers associate degree and certificate programs, workforce development programs, and transfer pathways to four-year degrees. For more information, please visit us online at tbr.edu or visit Motlow at motlow.edu.