Texas State Technical College plans to send a mobile advanced manufacturing training lab out of Harlingen on Tuesday, Nov. 10, bringing hands-on technical instruction directly to employers across Texas.
The lab is part of the college's Accelerated Training Solutions division and will offer instruction tailored to manufacturers' workforce needs, according to a TSTC announcement.
The program is designed to let companies train employees in specialized manufacturing technologies without sending them to a college campus.
Training in robotics and automation
The mobile lab will include equipment for teaching electrical systems, pneumatics, hydraulics, programmable logic controllers and FANUC industrial robotics.
Workers who complete qualifying training can earn industry-recognized credentials from organizations including the Smart Automation Certification Alliance, SMC Corp. and FANUC, according to TSTC.
"For us, it comes down to responsiveness and accessibility," said Cledia Hernandez, the college's vice chancellor and chief business development officer.
Hernandez said the college wants to provide employers with technical instruction that responds to changing industry needs.
The lab will combine material from TSTC's existing advanced manufacturing curriculum with training customized for participating companies.
Roger Snow, TSTC's dean of manufacturing, said industry partners help determine the skills and equipment included in the training.
Nelson Adams, director of project and resource management for Accelerated Training Solutions, helped coordinate the project.
Harlingen campus expands manufacturing education
The mobile lab's launch follows changes to manufacturing education at TSTC's Harlingen campus.
In May, the college announced plans to transition its advanced manufacturing offerings toward industrial maintenance and automation in response to demand for technicians across South Texas.
Students in the updated programs study electrical systems, troubleshooting, robotics and automated equipment.
A subsequent TSTC program announcement in August described new training equipment, including programmable logic controllers, smart-factory sensors and robotics maintenance systems.
Unlike campus-based courses, the mobile lab will bring selected instruction to workplaces elsewhere in the state.
The college's 2025 Board of Regents materials describe the project as a way to expand access to short-term, industry-aligned manufacturing training.
First destinations not announced
TSTC has not identified the employers that will receive the mobile lab's first training sessions or announced its initial travel schedule.
The Nov. 10 departure from Harlingen marks the planned start of the lab's statewide deployment.
The college said participating employers will help shape the instruction according to their equipment, workforce and technical needs.
