The College of the Canyons Employee Training Institute (ETI) and the Santa Clarita WorkSource Center will partner to host a daylong Fast Track Institute program orientation for recent high school graduates and other individuals looking to immediately begin a career in the aerospace or biomedical manufacturing industries.

Housed under the college’s Economic Development Division, the COC Fast Track Institute provides fast-paced, intensive job preparation programs for job seekers, mid-career professionals, recent high school graduates and others looking to quickly jump-start their careers.

By focusing on industry sectors where qualified candidates are in high demand — including aerospace and biomedical manufacturing — the Fast Track Institute has been able to successfully connect a number of local employers with a fresh pool of potential applicants.

“Local manufacturing companies are constantly asking us to develop new and innovative ways to train potential job applicants and equip them with the skills they need to be immediately employable,” said John Milburn, director of the COC Employee Training Institute. “This particular Fast Track program is open to those interested in manufacturing careers including graduating high school seniors and others who have a desire to enter the workforce as soon as possible.

“The best part is, this grant-funded program is completely free for qualified candidates, and no previous work experience is required,” added Milburn.

This summer’s Manufacturing Assembler and Technician Training Fast Track program is being funded through a grant from the California Community College’s Economic & Workforce Development (EWD) program’s Job Development Incentive Fund.

Candidates accepted into the program will receive 250 hours of hands-on training spread out over a seven-week period, running June 18 to Aug. 7, 2012. Classes will meet from 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday, with sessions designed to teach a variety of advanced precision assembly functions and manufacturing processes. Other topics of instruction will include:

* Manufacturing safety techniques

* Shop math

* Blueprint reading

* Inspection techniques

* Soldering

* Documentation procedures

* LEAN manufacturing methods

* Communication skills

* Problem solving skills

Upon completion of the program, graduates will also be invited to a private job fair event where they will have the opportunity to meet with potential employers and showcase their recently acquired skillset.

“A number of local employers in both the aerospace and biomedical manufacturing industries have contributed to the development of this program,” Milburn said. “They’ve identified the key skills applicants need to possess in order to be successful in these types of environments, and we’ve made sure to implement that into our training.”

Individuals interested in learning more about this program are invited to attend a free daylong Fast Track orientation event from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, May 12, in the Dr. Dianne G. Van Hook University Center, located on the college’s Valencia campus.

In order to participate, individuals must register in advance and arrive prior to the event’s 9 a.m. start time. Seating for this event is limited.

Throughout the day attendees will be able to receive more information and ask questions about program requirements, meet with industry professionals to learn more about the type of work they will be performing, submit applications and complete a basic math and English workforce assessment.

For more information about this summer’s COC Fast Track Institute Manufacturing Assembler and Technician Training program, or to register to attend the orientation event on May 12, please call (661) 362-5657 or visit http://mytinyurl.com/ftmatt3.