News and Events

October 18, 2021 – The ARM (Advanced Robotics for Manufacturing) Institute is pleased to announce that two more programs have been evaluated and selected to receive ARM Endorsement: the Educational Robotics Training – Core Program from Universal Robots and the Robot Technician I Program from Fortress Academy. 

The ARM Endorsement Program was launched earlier this year in conjunction with RoboticsCareer.org, the ARM Institute’s national workforce capability that connects education seekers with training for manufacturing careers, including robotics technician training. 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. This 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 criteria used to evaluate programs aligns with the ARM Institute’s robotics career paths and competencies and evaluate 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 

To reflect the importance of a diverse education ecosystem, programs of all formats can apply for ARM Endorsement, from high schools and programs from robot suppliers to community colleges and traditional universities. Each of our newly endorsed programs exceeded our evaluation criteria. Learn more about each program below and on RoboticsCareer.org: 

Universal Robots

The Educational Robotics Training – Core Program was created to provide a student-focused, hands-on instruction with a blended (in-class and hands-on) delivery that includes student-based projects, expanded training on interconnectivity and a clearly defined pathway for students to pursue an Advanced Manufacturing / Robotics Industry 4.0 career. The program integrates Employability skills, Project Management, Problem Solving, and Critical Thinking skills with the UR Robotics I4.0 Environment. The program aligns with ARM Model. RIA Compliancy, and National Credentialing. 

Fortress Academy

The Robot Technician I Training Program is a talent pipeline program designed and implemented by York Exponential with a robust curriculum that provides a solid entry-level education for employees. This program provides a 15-week accelerated vocational training program which provides hands-on training to build, install and repair robotic cells. The program is comprised of 4 major sections: Personal and Robot safety, Light Fabrication, Industrial Electronics and Robot Programming providing an excellent source of training for industries throughout the York, PA ecosystem. 

“The entire ARM Team congratulates our newly endorsed programs,” stated Lisa Masciantonio, ARM Institute Chief Workforce Officer, “These programs and our previously endorsed programs epitomize the importance of industry and workforce organizations working in tandem to prepare today’s workforce and build the workforce of the future.” 

Since introducing the Endorsement Program earlier this year, the ARM Institute has endorsed five programs in addition to those mentioned herein: Community College of Allegheny County (CCAC), Horizon Science Academy Columbus High School (HSA), the University of Washington, Wichita State University Campus of Applied Sciences and Technology (WSU Tech), and Wichita State University, Department of Engineering Technology. Endorsed programs are highlighted on RoboticsCareer.org, the ARM Institute’s national workforce capability that connects education seekers with training programs aligned with the Institute’s defined robotics career paths. 

Today, RoboticsCareer.org has more than 12,000 programs representing more than 1,900 organizations from across the United States and U.S territories. It includes programs ranging from high school STEM and micro-credentials through PhD degrees, delivered onsite, online or in hybrid formats. 

ABOUT THE ARM INSTITUTE 

The ARM (Advanced Robotics for Manufacturing) Institute is a Manufacturing USA® Institute sponsored by the Office of the Secretary of Defense under Agreement Number W911NF-17-3-0004. 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 & robots work together to respond to our nation’s greatest challenges and to produce the world’s most desired products. For more information, visit http://www.arminstitute.org and follow the ARM Institute on LinkedIn and Twitter.