Advanced Manufacturing Technician (AMT) Program
FAQ's

• Why Become a Manufacturing Technician?
• Why Enroll in SJCC's AMT Program?
• What will you be able to do with your AMT Certificate/AS?
• What type of people attend the AMT Program?
• What about those who already work in the AMT industry?

Why Become a Manufacturing Technician?

• The money is great with starting salaries at $25-$35,000
• Overtime can further add to your paycheck and help you get ahead financially
• The work hours are concentrated so you get chunks of time off
• The advancement opportunities are terrific
• Most employers are willing to pay for your continued education
• You will be able to find employment in many different parts of the country
• The work is challenging 

Why Enroll in SJCC's AMT Program?

• You'll attend one of the nation's most advanced semiconductor manufacturing technician programs
• You'll learn in a virtual reality environment that SJCC has developed in collaboration with Intel Corporation
• You'll attend a program that has in place strong partnerships with industry leaders such as Intel Corporation and Applied Material
• You'll pay for your education a fraction of what a similar training program would cost at a private institution
• You'll be located in the nation's largest semiconductor manufacturing center
• Your instructors will all have recent industry experience
• You'll have the opportunity to compete for prestigious paid internships, scholarships and other opportunities

What will you be able to do with your AMT Certificate/AS

If you work hard and make the necessary commitment to the program, you will leave SJCC's AMT with an exceptionally strong set of technical skills. You will have managed, maintained and trouble shot in the virtual lab the tool sets you'll be responsible for on the job. You will have a strong theoretical understanding of semiconductor systems and theories. And you will have developed critically important skills in team work, problem-solving and communication. As an example, you will have had the opportunity to practice on a daily basis the oral presentations that you will be expected to deliver on the job.

Further, although the training will have prepared you to become a Manufacturing Technician, the program will also have provided you with some or all the key skills required by the following technical positions:

Fab Operator Semi Assembler Maintenance Technician Facilities Technician Manufacturing Technicians Production Test Technician Semiconductor Manufacturing Inspector

QC Inspector Fab Technician Engineering Technician Chemical Technician In Process Inspector Field Support Technician Process Technician

In considering a career in manufacturing you should know that the industry is cyclical. This means that periods of rapid growth can be followed by a contraction. As an illustration, between 1992 and 1996, the US semiconductor industry increased by 43,000 jobs and more than one fifth of these new positions were generated by Silicon Valley firms. However, the recent economic down turn in Asia, has ended this period of expansion and changed the nature of the semiconductor job market.

Yet, virtually all industry experts agree that the long term outlook is one of continued growth. This is the case for three reasons:

• Semiconductors are used in more and more products such as automobiles, cell phones, computers, fax machines, microwaves, printers, satellites, x-ray machines, telephones and stereos
• The market for semiconductors continues to expand as technology use and applications increase in Europe, China, Taiwan and other parts of the world
• Continuous technology improvements mean that many consumers will continue to invest in the latest upgrades and applications

These are only a few of over 500 companies in the Bay Area that will hire AMT graduates

FSI Insync Systems Silicon Valley Group, Inc. National Semiconductor Ultratech Stepper Advanced Micro Devices

Intel Corporation Hewlett Packard IBM KLA-Tencor GaSonics Applied Materials

What type of people attend the AMT Program

SJCC's AMT students make up a truly diverse group in terms of where they come from, what they have done in the past, their age and ethnicity. Some students come to the program with no prior experience in manufacturing or electronics. Others have worked in the industry for several years and want to upgrade and update their skills. Some students have years of experience in the workforce. Others come directly from high school. Many AMT students came to the US from other countries and English is their second language. And many have part-time or even full-time jobs that they keep while completing the program.

The diversity of the student body is one of the SMT program's greatest strengths. It provides all students with the opportunity to learn with and from classmates whose backgrounds and experiences are different from their own. It helps develop communication skills and it teaches students to work effectively in teams, just like they must do in the workplace. Perhaps most importantly, the diversity adds to the program an element of excitement and fun.

What about those who already work in the AMT industry?

Many AMT students already work in high tech manufacturing. Some of these students attend a single AMT course to build particular skills. Others enroll in several courses each semester.  Scholarships may be available to students enrolled in a minimum of 9 units/semester.

The AMT program is a great option if:

• you are a technical worker who has advanced through the ranks without ever being formally trained. The program will help you develop a theoretical understanding of what you are doing - you'll learn to see the big picture - and you will build the skills you need to advance within the industry
• you want to upgrade your skills, learn more about the industry and become more flexible in terms of what you can do and the positions you can fill
• you want to develop or strengthen your communication skills and your ability to work as part of a team
• you want to embark upon a high quality and affordable path towards a BA in Engineering

We can almost guarantee that your employer will be thrilled to hear about your plans to go back to school. In fact, it is even possible that your company will be willing to support the time you spend in class and the - very low - enrollment fee. It certainly cannot hurt to ask.

Class schedules are developed to enable you to continue to work full-time while studying. We have evening courses and schedules that enable you to complete all your course work on the days when you are not working.

In deciding whether the AMT is a worthwhile effort, consider the following benefits that incumbent workers have gained in the past after completing AMT course work: 

• pay raises
• advancement/promotion
• increased job satisfaction resulting from workers' ability to take on a wider range of responsibilities
  and from their new understanding of "the big picture"
• and important in periods of contraction and lay offs --- a greater sense of job security resulting from
  better performance and the ability to take on new and more responsibilities

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