MADISON, Wis. — Wisconsin manufacturers struggling to fill electromechanical technician positions have a new workforce solution starting this summer.
Madison College has been awarded a Workforce Advancement Training (WAT) grant from the Wisconsin Technical College System to help manufacturers train their current workers for advanced electromechanical roles.
Starting summer 2026, Madison College will offer an eight-college-credit course covering industrial safety, fluid power, electrical systems, PLCs, controls and engineering graphics.
Participants completing the program earn an OSHA 10-Hour General Industry card and a Madison College Electromechanical Technician digital badge. Instruction will be given at Madison College Truax campus and select employer sites.
“Often, the people on the factory floor with the deepest knowledge of a manufacturer’s plant and processes are the maintenance personnel,” said Randall Way, Associate Dean, Madison College School of STEM. “This program provides a first step for technical staff to parlay their deep knowledge of their employer’s body of engineering practice into further education, potentially leading to roles in engineering or advanced technical positions. It connects incumbent employees’ practical knowledge with theory to create truly versatile problem solvers.”
State WAT grant funding will offset a portion of the employer training costs, making it more affordable to invest in employee development while keeping production running.
Manufacturers in advanced manufacturing, industrial automation and controls, food and beverage production and medical device manufacturing are eligible to participate. Enrollment is limited.
To learn more and reserve a spot in the summer 2026 training series, contact Matthew Garcia at Madison College, 608 246 5244 or mgarcia64@madisoncollege.edu
