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
• Small class sizes: student/instructor ratio is great for direct instructor contact

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 two-year Digital Manufacturing diploma builds on a foundation of electronics theory. Over four semesters, you begin with the basics of electrical and digital theory and then move into courses focusing on 3D modelling, material science and technology, design for manufacturing, computer numerical controlled (CNC) machinery, and fabrication technology.

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.

*These courses have labs in addition to the class

*These courses have labs in addition to the class

View course descriptions in the academic calendar.

Upon graduation, you are ready to enter a field hungry for talent 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.

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.

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