Building An Industry 4.0 Pathway
Creating a Modern Smart Manufacturing Program Through SACA, Automation, Robotics and Digital Manufacturing
Jim Savage
Smart Manufacturing Instructor
Angola High School
Angola, IN
Who I Am / Why It Matters
Manufacturing Education has experienced several evolutions during my time in the classroom.
Angola High School
The Manufacturing Workforce Challenge
The Manufacturing Skills Gap
3.8 Million new manufacturing workers needed by 2033
1.9 Million jobs could remain unfilled
Industry 4.0 Education is no longer optional - it is workforce critical.
The gap cannot be closed just by teaching Industry 4.0 - It has to be validated with a credential employers can trust.
What Is An Industry 4.0 Pathway?
Connected Technologies
Working
Together
From First Cert to Full Facility
Spring 2023
Fall 2023
Fall 2024
Fall 2025
Fall 2026
Spring 2025
Start With The Credential, Not The Equipment
We didn’t build a lab and then add certifications. We chose SACA first - and built the program around it.
How the program was built:
SACA Credentials
Equipment Choices
Connected Pathway
Student Certifications
Each trainer, robot and CNC cell was selected to feed a specific SACA credential - so the credential, not the hardware, set the direction.
Why SACA Became The Foundation
“SACA gave our program structure, direction and credibility”
Why SACA Over the Alternatives?
| SACA | MSSC CPT 4.0 | NIMS | FANUC |
Focus/Lane | Industry 4.0 - connected & smart automation systems. | Broad front-line production, all sectors | Precision Machining & Metal Working | Robotics & CNC (vendor specific) |
Hands-On Validation | Built In - Silver (Exam) + Gold (Proctored Hands On) | Add-On only - CPT + Skill Boss trainer | Yes - Exam + Performance Evaluation | Yes - On real robot cells |
Industry Recognition | Newer: the Industry 4.0 Native Credential | ANSI/ISO 17024 accredited, NAM-endorsed | Long trusted in machining roles | Strong hiring pull in robotics-heavy regions |
Cost to our students | Free at SACA member schools. | Per-exam fee | Per-exam fee | Per-exam fee. |
How this fits Indiana’s Next Level Programs of Study
Indiana didn’t just allow SACA - It wrote SACA into its Industry 4.0 course standards and its new diploma rewards it.
In the Course Standards
In the New Diploma (Class of 2029)
In College Credit
How Indiana’s NLPS Was Built
Built By Practitioners
College Partnership Built In
State Oversight
NLPS didn’t just set standards - it wired college credit and practitioner input into the structure from Day 1.
Indiana is Influencing Regionally/Nationally
Structure
Who is Watching
Credential Alignment
Indiana’s model isn’t just a strong local program - it’s a repeatable state policy framework being looked at by others as a template to program design
Building Around SACA: The Results
Year 4 has just begun - and the pipeline keeps growing!
SACA Certifications earned per year
1
Year 1
First SACA Cert
(C-101 Silver)
18
Year 2
First Gold Earned
56
Year 3
39 Silver + 17 Gold
42
OSHA 10 Certifications
(Year 3)
54
College Dual Credits
18 Students (Year 3)
SACA Certifications In Our Program
The Role of the Amatrol LMS
Comprehensive e-learning integrated with hands-on industrial training equipment.
Industry and Vendor Partnerships
Jerry Horn
Aidex Technical
Sales
Ryan Kassner
Aidex Market
Development
Jacob Perkins
Amatrol
Assoc. VP
Brian Evans
Aidex Strategic Partnerships
Julian Paulson
Aidex Training & Service
Shari Kaiser
Aidex Customer Relations
Justin Chittick
Aidex Technical
Sales
Why Relationships Matter
Infrastructure
Training
Support
Sustainability
Growth
Leadership That Made This Possible
Dr. Schauna Relue
Assistant Superintendent
"This program exists because district leadership believed in it early — and kept believing in it."
Amatrol Trainers and Hands-On Learning
Feeds C-101, C-102, C-201, C-202, C-203, C-209
Students prove they can build and troubleshoot live systems, not just describe them.
FANUC Robotics
Feeds C-102, C-215
Robotics is where student interest spikes - and where Industry 4.0 careers concentrate
CNC Integration and Levil Technology
Feeds C-102
Precision and Quality Control - the discipline that separates the part from the scrap
Incorporating Additive Manufacturing
Extends the C-101/C-102 Workflow
The most accessible on-ramp - high engagement, real design to production skills
Connected Ecosystems
Students learn how systems connect together
The New Facility
New Lab
The Honest Challenges
The Challenge | How We Respond |
Funding is Difficult | Strategic Investment and Intentional year-over year growth |
Equipment Costs are Significant | It’s real industry equipment - plan and budget like industry |
Teacher Training Never Stops | The instructor must keep evolving too. |
Student Placement Matters | Right Student + Right Pathway = Success |
Rigor vs. Accessibility | High Expectations paired with achievable entry points |
Technology Changes Fast | Education has to evolve as fast as industry does |
Not Every Idea Works | Stay adaptive - the best programs look adaptive, not flawless |
What Worked - and What We’d Tell You
What Worked for Us
What We’d Tell a New Program
Selling the Program: Building Visibility & Support
Advisory Board
Local Industry
Economic Development Corp
Parent/Student Communication
P-CAP (UIndy CELL)
Social Media
Final Thoughts - Your Next Three Moves
1
Join SACA
Become a member school so certifications are structured - and free to your students.
Map Your Equipment
Match the gear you already own to specific SACA credentials, and build from there.
2
Check Your State
Find out whether your state lists SACA as a credential of value for its diploma or pathways.
3
The takeaway: manufacturing education changes lives - and a credential-first pathway is how you prove it. Let’s build them together.
Closing
Thank You!
Questions?
jsavage@msdsc.us