Modern manufacturing runs on automation, but automation runs on people. When mechanized processes goes wrong, the costs of down-time can be prohibitive The manufacturing team of today is more like the pit crew of an F1 racer than ever before.
Industry estimates routinely place the cost of unplanned downtime in the tens of thousands of dollars per hour for traditional manufacturers — and significantly higher in highly automated facilities. In large-scale automated operations, losses can escalate into the hundreds of thousands of dollars per hour when throughput stops.
The question for manufacturers isn’t whether automation matters. It’s whether your team has the foundational automation skills to keep it running smoothly.
That’s where the Industrial Automation Programs at Moreno Valley College and Norco College come in.
These programs are SACA-aligned — meaning instructors are certified under Smart Automation Certification Alliance standards — and students complete a college-issued Industrial Automation Certificate, built around nationally validated competencies in controls, diagnostics, maintenance, and systems integration.
So who on your team should go?
1. Maintenance Technicians (First Priority)
Anyone responsible for:
- Troubleshooting equipment
- Reading schematics
- Working with electrical, pneumatic, or automated systems
should be at the top of the list.
The curriculum covers PLC fundamentals, ladder logic, smart sensors, pneumatics, precision measurement, and structured troubleshooting. These are equipment-agnostic skills that apply across packaging lines, robotics cells, process manufacturing, and assembly systems.
2. Operators Moving into Lead Roles
The SACA 101 framework is often described as “an inch deep and a mile wide.” That’s intentional.
For operators stepping into lead or technical roles, this provides:
- Systems-level understanding
- Improved communication with maintenance
- Faster identification of issues before escalation
This alone can prevent minor faults from becoming production-stopping events.
3. Supervisors and Production Managers
This may surprise some leaders — but management participation matters.
Supervisors who complete at least foundational automation coursework:
- Communicate more effectively with technical teams
- Make better staffing decisions
- Evaluate downtime events more accurately
Credibility improves. Decision-making improves. Relationships improve.
4. Incumbent Workers You Want to Retain
Certified automation pathways are stackable and modular (roughly 20–65 hours per segment).
For employees, that means:
- Clear advancement pathways
- Higher earning potential
- Stronger retention incentives
In today’s labor market, that matters.
Why This Matters Strategically
As Maroun Nehme of Klein Educational — who helped both colleges build their automation labs — puts it:
“Anyone in a plant who touches equipment, whether it’s simple maintenance, advanced operations, or even the management of these teams should understand at least the fundamentals.”
Major manufacturers are increasingly embedding structured automation training into their talent pipelines before full on-the-job deployment. Large corporates have publicly discussed requiring multiple SACA-aligned credentials prior to extended technical assignments — reinforcing that foundational, system-level automation knowledge is becoming standard, not optional.
Automation doesn’t eliminate jobs. It elevates them.
Plants that invest in foundational automation competence will win more uptime, more contracts, and more talent.
The Local Advantage
Across Southern California, only a small number of community colleges offer SACA-aligned automation programs.
In the Inland Empire, both are within RCCD:
- Moreno Valley College
- Norco College
If you’re deciding who on your team should level up, start with the people closest to your equipment — and the leaders responsible for keeping it running.
Whether you’re building your next maintenance hire or strengthening your current team, this is where to look.
Questions or Interested in Learning More?
For employer partnerships or enrollment information, please contact:
Debbie Smith
📧 dsmith@mfgcouncilie.com
Sandra Sisco
📧 ssisco@mfgcouncilie.com
