Digital Manufacturing

FEATURES:

• Learn in an advanced lab, featuring digital and computer numerical controlled machinery, 3D printers, laser cutters, plasma cutters, and more
• A digital manufacturing design and implementation project provides you with hands-on experience that is applicable in the field
• Program eligible for financial aid

The Digital Manufacturing diploma prepares you to work with digital-based equipment, methods, techniques, and materials as either an entry-level generalist or as a specialist within a previously acquired discipline.

The UFV Digital Manufacturing diploma builds on the knowledge you have gained in the Electronics Technician program or an equivalent set of competencies demonstrated through Prior Learning Assessment and Recognition (PLAR), a portfolio, a prior recognized credential, or an individual assessment of a credential.

As part of the Digital Manufacturing program, you take a series of intensive courses divided over two standard semesters. The nature of the topics and learning methods involve extended periods on project-related tasks, allowing flexibility to include topics of interest.

View course descriptions in the academic calendar.

When you graduate, you are ready to enter the workforce as an operator, technician, or technologist, either in digital manufacturing or any economic sector deploying technology.

Canadian Manufacturers and Exporters (CME) reports that manufacturing employs 1.7 million people, with an annual compensation of $114 billion — more than any other sector. Currently, 40% of CME’s members experience skill shortages. This number is expected to grow to 60% in five years.

Locally, manufacturing supports 12,000 firms and 400,000 jobs according to City of Abbotsford Economic Development (CAED). As an economic driver, manufacturing provides $8.6 billion in wages, which is 15% higher than the overall average wage for all industries.

High technology is fueling growth in the digital manufacturing sector: CAED reports that in the last 15 years, advanced manufacturing businesses grew over 19% of all firms, to almost 45% of the total manufacturing firms in British Columbia.

Therefore, digital manufacturing grads have excellent employment prospects in a wide variety of enterprises including aerospace, mining, steelmaking, automotive, food processing, wood and paper products, and consumer goods.

View Digital Manufacturing's entrance requirements in the UFV Academic Calendar.

If you are currently or recently employed in the electronics industry, our upgrading program allows you to complete your certificate requirements or to become proficient in a specific process or technique, in order to meet the prerequisites for entry in the Digital Manufacturing program.

As an upgrading student, you are expected to meet program prerequisites through previous enrolment or proof of industry experience, approved by the program instructor.

Upgrading students cannot be enrolled for more than 13 weeks or cannot displace anyone registered in an upcoming intake. 

A Digital Manufacturing graduate will be able to:

• Independently create technical designs using 3D computer modelling software.
• Create and maintain machine networks and inter-equipment communications systems.
• Operate, maintain, and modify common digital manufacturing equipment.
• Demonstrate a basic working knowledge of traditional non-digital fabrication methods.
• Select materials based on their intended application.
• Select fabrication equipment based on machine capabilities and materials to be processed.
• Utilize project repositories for curation, collaboration, and version control.
• Apply safety concepts to make decisions related to equipment, the manufacturing environment and materials.
• Demonstrate a decision making process guided by responsibility and ethics.

Phone: 604-847-5448
Toll free: 604-504-7441, local 5448
Fax: 604-824-7931
Email: trades@ufv.ca
Or ask online