• Saddleback College

Mission Viejo, CA

• Provides industry leadership through additive manufacturing materials and process research.

• Recruits, retains, and prepares incumbent and emerging workforce students for careers in the expanding field of additive manufacturing.

• Offers secondary and postsecondary professional development opportunities.

• Supplies instructional materials for certificate and degree programs that enable college and high school students to enter a variety of emerging fields in additive manufacturing.

RapidTech Focuses on Additive Manufacturing Careers

RapidTech and its partners support careers in the expanding field of additive manufacturing technologies. With the formation of the ASTM International F42 standard and direction from its Industry Advisory Board on Additive Manufacturing, RapidTech is realigning existing instructional materials to be infused into new and existing design, manufacturing, and engineering courses. The realignment will allow educators to implement additive manufacturing education while minimizing the impact on existing coursework. New and updated instructional materials are being evaluated that will highlight the new skill and knowledge sets that will be required in the additive manufacturing industry.

RapidTech supports professional development for secondary school teachers, as well as community college and university faculty through its National Teacher Training Workshop. This workshop provides valuable hands-on experiences utilizing instructional materials and equipment not normally found in the classroom, and it brings together industry, equipment manufacturers, and educators for a truly unique learning experience. In fall 2010 the Rapid Digital Manufacturing Program at Saddleback College had 207 students. This is a 16% increase from 2008 when 178 students were enrolled in the associate of science degree program.

RapidTech Connects Industry & Education As Use of Additive Manufacturing Grows

RapidTech has taken a leadership position within the additive manufacturing industry by actively participating in conferences and national boards such as SME Rapid and the ASTM F42 Committee on additive manufacturing. With input from its industry advisory board, RapidTech has also taken a leading role in the preparation of students to support additive manufacturing activities within the U.S. manufacturing base.

RapidTech assists educational institutions at all levels by defining current and future workforce trends and identifying the knowledge and skills needed by the emerging workforce. The center places this information in the hands of educational institutions at all levels in order to ensure that the instructional support material and programs at colleges across the country reflect current workforce needs. RapidTech encourages educational institutions across the country to adopt real-world experiences within the classrooms by utilizing project-based learning models that incorporate science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) learning experiences.

RapidTech actively collaborates with more than 197 educational institutions and 529 companies and agencies across the country. RapidTech’s industry partners provide employment opportunities for students in a wide range of industries including aerospace, animation, automotive, defense, consumer products, and medical devices.