JCB gets innovative with Integrated Manufacturing Program

Through rigorous coursework and a passion for hands-on learning, six students at Phoenix High School in Technology Teacher Corey Szyikowski’s Computer Integrated Manufacturing program are paving the way in the district’s efforts to bring technology and robotics to the forefront.

Students Tyler Bertrand, Tallen Prior, Abby Spade, Ed Kelly, Cody Hager and Zach Henderson make up the inaugural class for the program. Szyikowski said the students have been learning key details of robotics and basic programming. Students have worked with VEX Robotics and Dobot Robotics and have learned the basics regarding the manufacturing process, assembly lines and conveyor belts.

All of this hard work and training built up to a culminating project in which the students designed a small-scale factory with the goal of assembling LEGO cars. To complete the project and successfully assemble the cars, students had to not only mimic an assembly line, but also needed strategize a way for two different systems to work cohesively.

“We broke into three two-person groups to bring it all together. And they each had their section to work on,” said Szyikowski. “The great part of this class is they spend so much time problem solving.”

According to Spade, a sophomore, the hands-on experience is something that she most enjoys about the program.

“I really enjoy that we’re up and working all the time. We’re not just sitting at or desk,” she said. “I also think it’s a good thing that we have such a small class size. We have a little group, and we work well together.”

Kelly, a junior, said he aspires to become an engineer in the future and believes this program is helping to make that dream a reality.

“This is a very engaging learning environment. You’re not just seeing or hearing what’s happening. You’re actually able to change what is happening by doing it yourself.”