Co-Op Education Training Assignment in Manufacturing

Course Description

ETI1949 — Co-Op Education Training Assignment in Manufacturing — is a structured, supervised cooperative education (co-op) work experience for students enrolled in the Engineering Technologies / Industrial Systems Technology program at Florida colleges. The course integrates hands-on, career-related work experience at an approved manufacturing employer with academic coursework, allowing students to apply technical knowledge and workplace skills gained in the classroom to real-world industrial environments. The co-op placement must be directly related to the student's program of study and is conducted under the joint supervision of the employer and the college faculty coordinator.

Students earn academic credit by completing a minimum number of approved on-site work hours, submitting regular work journals or activity logs, participating in faculty check-ins, and completing written reflection assignments. The course is typically graded on a Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory (S/U) basis. Placement at an approved employer site is required prior to enrollment; students must secure the co-op position and obtain faculty or departmental approval before registering.

This course falls under the Florida Statewide Course Numbering System (SCNS) taxonomy for Engineering Technologies and is classified in the 1900-series cooperative/internship experience category, reflecting a first-year or sophomore-level work-based learning experience.

Learning Outcomes

Required Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion of this course, students will be able to:

• Apply technical knowledge and skills from Engineering Technology coursework to practical manufacturing tasks in an approved workplace setting.
• Demonstrate professional workplace behaviors including punctuality, reliability, adherence to safety protocols, and effective communication with supervisors and coworkers.
• Identify and describe the organizational structure, production processes, and operational workflows of the host manufacturing employer.
• Document work experiences, tasks performed, and skills developed through regular journal entries or activity logs submitted to the faculty coordinator.
• Comply with all applicable workplace safety regulations, including OSHA standards relevant to the manufacturing environment.
• Demonstrate growth in career readiness by successfully completing assigned duties as verified through supervisor evaluations.

Optional / Enrichment Learning Outcomes

Depending on the employer site and program track, students may also:

• Participate in quality control or quality assurance processes, including inspection procedures and statistical process control (SPC).
• Support Lean Manufacturing or continuous improvement (Kaizen) initiatives by collecting data, identifying bottlenecks, and proposing process solutions.
• Operate, monitor, or maintain automated electro-mechanical systems, programmable logic controllers (PLCs), or robotic equipment used in production.
• Contribute to supply chain, scheduling, or capacity planning activities within the host organization.
• Gain exposure to computer-integrated manufacturing (CIM), CAD/CAM tools, or enterprise resource planning (ERP) software systems.
• Complete tasks aligned with MSSC Certified Production Technician (CPT) competency areas, including production processes, maintenance awareness, and quality measurement.

Major Topics

Required Topics

All co-op sections address the following topic areas:

• Co-Op Orientation and Site Introduction: Employer orientation, facility tour, introduction to company policies, safety procedures, and role expectations.
• Workplace Safety and Compliance: OSHA general industry standards, personal protective equipment (PPE) requirements, hazard communication, and site-specific safety rules.
• Professional Workplace Skills: Teamwork, communication with supervisors, time management, professional conduct, and workplace ethics.
• Manufacturing Operations Exposure: Observation and participation in core production activities relevant to the employer's industry sector (e.g., assembly, fabrication, quality inspection, machine operation).
• Academic Reflection and Reporting: Regular written journal entries, activity logs, or work reports documenting tasks performed, skills applied, and lessons learned.
• Supervisor Evaluation and Faculty Check-Ins: Mid-term and final supervisor performance evaluations; scheduled contact meetings or check-ins with the college faculty coordinator.
• Connecting Theory to Practice: Structured comparison of classroom concepts with real-world workplace experience during required class meeting sessions.

Optional / Site-Dependent Topics

The following topics may be included based on the employer placement and available work assignments:

• Lean Manufacturing and Process Improvement: Introduction to 5S, value stream mapping, waste reduction, and continuous improvement methodology on the shop floor.
• Quality Control and Measurement: Use of measurement tools, inspection techniques, and introduction to statistical quality concepts in a production setting.
• Automated Systems and Equipment Operation: Hands-on exposure to PLCs, CNC machines, robotics, hydraulic/pneumatic systems, or other automated manufacturing equipment.
• Materials and Manufacturing Processes: Practical exposure to metal alloys, polymers, composites, or other materials used in the employer's production processes.
• Supply Chain and Production Planning: Exposure to inventory control, scheduling, materials requirements planning (MRP), or related operational functions.
• CAD/CAM and Digital Manufacturing Tools: Introductory use of 2D/3D design software, simulation tools, or data analysis platforms (e.g., Excel, Minitab) in support of manufacturing functions.
• Capstone Work Project or Presentation: A final project report or oral presentation summarizing co-op experience, key competencies developed, and recommendations for process improvement.

Resources & Tools

• Florida Advanced Technological Education Center (FLATE): Florida's NSF-supported resource center for manufacturing education best practices — fl-ate.org
• Florida Statewide Course Numbering System (SCNS): Official course profile database — flscns.fldoe.org
• MSSC Certified Production Technician (CPT) Study Materials: Aligned to Florida's Engineering Technology core competencies — msscusa.org
• OSHA General Industry Safety Standards (29 CFR 1910): Required reference for workplace safety compliance at manufacturing sites.
• FloridaShines / FLVC Course Portal: Statewide repository for distance learning and co-op course listings — courses.flvc.org
• Co-Op Work Journal / Activity Log Template: Provided by the college faculty coordinator; used for weekly documentation of tasks, hours, and learning reflections.
• Handshake or College Career Services Portal: Used for co-op job posting, offer reporting, and placement approval workflows.

Career Pathways

Successful completion of ETI1949 supports entry into or advancement within the following manufacturing and industrial career pathways:

• Production Technician / Manufacturing Operator — Entry-level production and assembly roles in Florida's 20,000+ manufacturing companies.
• Industrial Maintenance Technician — Maintenance, installation, and troubleshooting of electro-mechanical systems in manufacturing environments.
• Quality Control / Quality Assurance Technician — Inspection, measurement, and process monitoring in production settings.
• Advanced Manufacturing Technician — Operation and support of automated systems including PLCs, robotics, hydraulics, and pneumatics.
• Process Improvement / Lean Specialist — Support roles in continuous improvement, 5S, and Lean/Six Sigma initiatives within manufacturing firms.
• Engineering Technology Associate (A.S. Pathway) — Progression toward the Associate in Science in Engineering Technology, including the Advanced Manufacturing Specialization offered at Florida colleges such as Eastern Florida State College.
• Aerospace & Defense Manufacturing — Florida's Space Coast and defense industry sectors (e.g., Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman, Oshkosh AeroTech) actively recruit ET co-op students for manufacturing and operations roles.

Special Information

Certification Preparation

ETI1949 co-op experience directly supports preparation for the MSSC Certified Production Technician (CPT) credential, which is the industry-recognized national certification aligned with Florida's Engineering Technology core curriculum. Students who obtain the CPT certification may be eligible to receive up to 15 credit hours of articulated credit toward the A.S. in Engineering Technology degree under Florida's statewide articulation agreement.

Enrollment & Placement Requirements

Students must secure an approved co-op employer placement prior to enrolling in ETI1949. Enrollment is by permit or departmental approval only. Students are required to maintain good academic standing, have completed foundational ETI coursework, and have a co-op position offer confirmed in writing by the host employer. The co-op work assignment must be directly related to the Engineering Technology / Manufacturing program of study. International students requiring CPT authorization should consult their college's International Student Services office before registering.

Grading

This course is graded Satisfactory (S) / Unsatisfactory (U) and does not affect the student's GPA. A Satisfactory grade requires completion of the minimum required work hours, satisfactory supervisor evaluations, and timely submission of all required academic assignments (journal entries, activity logs, and/or final report). An Unsatisfactory grade may result in ineligibility for future co-op enrollment.

Transfer Note

As an X900–X949 series course under the Florida SCNS, ETI1949 is not automatically transferable between institutions and must be evaluated individually by the receiving institution. Students planning to transfer should consult their academic advisor and the receiving institution's registrar regarding credit applicability.