Making EV Batteries: Operator Registered Apprenticeship Program Curriculum at Kansas City Kansas Community College
The Kansas City Kansas Community College (KCKCC) Operator Registered Apprenticeship Program (RAP) will focus on making electric vehicle batteries. This is to launch and/or expand RAPs and increase RAP opportunities for programs that lead to RAP enrollment. The RAP is a 16 credit certificate program consisting of courses which are a subset of the Automation Engineer Technology (AET) Associate of Applied Science degree program. For the purposes of this partnership with Panasonic Energy Corporation of North America (PECNA) and AACC, the courses selected are to accelerate the skills needed/required by PECNA’s Skill Machine Technician 1. This certificate will become a national model for all community colleges to learn from as AACC shares through its channels and membership.
AMFT 0100 Safety OSHA 10: 2 credit hours
AMFT 0101 AC/DC Circuits: 4 credit hours
AMFT 0112 Industrial Fluid Power: 3 credit hours
AMFT 0121 Programmable Logic Controllers (PLC): 3 credit hours AMFT 0150 Electric Motor Controls: 3 credit hours
BLUE 0101 Freshman Seminar: 1 credit hour
Upon mutual agreement by KCKCC and PECNA, the courses listed above may be modified to serve the needs of the students and the apprenticeship program.
KCKCC will provide the curriculum, classroom and lab space, equipment and supplies needed for the RTI portion of the apprenticeship program. All curriculum developed by KCKCC shall be credit-based. KCKCC hired Panasonic employees as adjunct instructors. Hiring Panasonic employees helps with instructor shortages. Career and technical education (CTE) programs often compete with high-wage industry salaries. Also, hiring Panasonic employees enhances the contextualization of the training.
Students in this program will be hired by PECNA prior to beginning the program. After an orientation period, the program will feature an 8-week, front-loaded education model on-the-job training. One or more PECNA production employees will be assigned as mentors for each cohort. Mentors will ensure students continue their learning experience at work using instructional materials and evaluations provided by the program.
This apprenticeship program contains six core components:
- On-The-Job Training
- Related Technical Instruction
- Employer Mentorship
- Progressive Wage Gains
- Occupational Credential
Kansas City Kansas Community College Program Overview:
What students will learn
- Review and understand the fundamentals of electric vehicles
- Get an introduction to EV production
- Cover assembly, safety, and quality best practices
- Discover key details around electrical units and battery components
How students will benefit
- This industry-recognized and industry-validated professional certification gives individuals an advantage
- Validate knowledge against industry standards and show their skills are current
- Enhance their career opportunities with the EVF certification to gain a competitive advantage in the job market
- Set themselves apart from their colleagues
- Demonstrate a commitment to their career and continuous improvement
- Earn a portable, industry-recognized credential that travels with them throughout their career
Syllabus
| 1. Lockout/Tagout Procedures | 26. Introduction to CMM Arms | 51. Quality and Customer Service |
| 2. SDS and Hazard Communication | 27. Introduction to Laser Trackers | 52. Electrical Units |
| 3. Hazardous Materials Handling | 28. Structured Light 3D Scanners | 53. Safety for Electrical Work |
| 4. Bloodborne Pathogens | 29. 3D Laser Scanners | 54. Wire Harness Components |
| 5. Fire Safety and Prevention | 30. Introduction to Additive Manufacturing | 55. DC Power Sources |
| 6. Ergonomics | 31. Additive Manufacturing Safety | 56. Battery Selection |
| 7. Arc Flash Safety | 32. The Basic Additive Manufacturing Process | 57. Introduction to Welding |
| 8. High Voltage Safety | 33. Additive Manufacturing Methods and Materials | 58. Introduction to Welding |
| 9. Machine Guarding | 34. The Additive Manufacturing Supply Chain | 59. Overview of Soldering |
| 10. Light Curtains Overview | 35. Design for Additive Manufacturing | 60. Introduction to Automation |
| 11. Lean Manufacturing Overview | 36. Additive Manufacturing Materials Science | 61. Introduction to Smart Manufacturing |
| 12. Quality Overview | 37. Additive Manufacturing as a Secondary Process | 62. Introduction to the Industrial Internet of Things |
| 13. Intro to OSHA | 38. Additive Manufacturing as a Secondary Process | 63. Introduction to Digital Twin |
| 14. 5S Overview | 39. Robot Safety | 64. High Energy Batteries |
| 15. Cell Design and Pull Systems | 40. Robot Application | 65. Lithium Ion Battery Handling & Safety |
| 16. Metrics for Lean | 41. Robot Axes and Pathways | 66. Introduction to Electric Mobility Manufacturing |
| 17. Total Quality Management Overview | 42. Introduction to Collaborative Robots | 67. Overview of Electric Vehicle Components |
| 18. Value Stream Mapping: The Current State | 43. Essentials of Communication | 68. Intro to Adhesive Bonding |
| 19. Value Stream Mapping: The Future State | 44. Conflict Resolution Principles | 69. Intro to Coating Composition |
| 20. Continuous Process Improvement: Managing Flow | 45. Conflict Resolution for Different Groups | 70. Introduction to Assembly |
| 21. Continuous Process Improvement: Identifying and Eliminating Waste | 46. Conflict Resolution for Different Groups | 71. Abrasive Finishing Processes |
| 22. Blueprint Reading | 47. Managing the Diverse Workplace | 72. Introduction to Mechanical Systems |
| 23. Basic Measurement | 48. Personal Protective Equipment | 73. Introduction to Fluid Systems |
| 24. Nondestructive Testing | 49. ISO 9001: 2015 Review | |
| 25. Inspecting with CMMs | 50. IATF 16949:2016 Overview |