Manufacturing Technology Degree— Plastics Technology Concentration (Nypro, Inc.) (PT)

Current industry trends indicate that the rapidly growing plastics industry will continue to expand well into the 21st century. Customers' expectations and product design complexities are challenging today's limited number of experienced process technicians and engineers. Many plastics companies are seeking to hire experienced production employees but cannot find enough experienced people to meet market demand. Furthermore, worldwide, few colleges offer plastics programs. This program is a cooperative venture among Nypro, Inc. of Clinton, Fitchburg State College, and MWCC. Students first complete a set of core technical courses at Nypro.

Campus/format: All Plastics Technology (PT) courses are taken through NYPRO Institute of Technology (NYPRO, Inc., Clinton, MA) as accredited by Fitchburg State College. MWCC accepts NYPRO courses as transfer credit. Courses are offered evenings only.

Helpful hints: Information for the technical courses (PT) and scheduling of specific classes can be obtained from Nypro, Inc. of Clinton MA (978) 365-9721.

Transfer options: MWCC accepts Nypro courses as transfer credit. MWCC graduates of this program can transfer into Fitchburg State College’s Industrial Technology bachelor’s degree program. This program qualifies for the Franklin University College Alliance program (for management).

Special requirements: Students enrolled in this program must adhere to the 30-credit MWCC residency requirement; Nypro (PT) courses are treated as transfer credits.

Technical standards must be met with or without accommodations.

Career options: Design, development, testing, troubleshooting, and production in electronics, health care, automotive, and telecommunications industries.

Earning potential: $22,000 to $40,000 per year.

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Program Competencies

Upon graduation from these programs, students shall have demonstrated the ability to:

1. Communicate technical information in written and oral form.
2. Participate as a contributing member of a small work team as well as the larger factory team – including problem solving.
3. Solve practical production mathematical problems requiring basic algebra, geometry, trigonometry, and statistics skills.
4. Communicate in the graphic language of engineering by interpreting technical blueprints used in industry and preparing two- and three-dimensional technical sketches.
5. Understand and apply the fundamentals of the basic sciences that underlie the machines used in manufacturing.
6. Understand and apply the fundamentals of the many manufacturing processes used in industry to manufacture products.
7. Understand and apply computers in the manufacturing environment.
8. Understand and apply modern operations principles to manufacturing operations, including total quality management, statistical process control, and continuous quality improvement and just-in-time.
9. Use a current personal computer workstation for word processing, spreadsheets, database management, email, www searching and simple drawing, including integration into a single coherent document (report).

Technical Standards*

*general information about technical standards and accommodation.

Students entering these programs must be able to demonstrate the ability to:

1. Comprehend textbook material at the 11th grade level.
2. Communicate and assimilate information either in spoken, printed, signed, or computer voice format.
3. Gather, analyze, and draw conclusions from data.
4. Stand for two hours.
5. Manipulate small parts, and make fine hand adjustments to machines, and test equipment.
6. Use appropriate tools found in the manufacturing environment.
7. Work indoors in the presence of low, repetitious noise levels (not to exceed regulatory standards).
8. Work indoors in a non air-conditioned environment with exposure to oil vapors.
9. Visualize in two and three dimensions.
10. Lift forty pounds.
11. Learn to operate a computer.