AIT Student Working

Up next on ATE TV...

Industrial manufacturing goes high tech!





Advanced Technological Education Television


Multi-skilled technicians are a critical component in

today's manufacturing work force employers are looking

for candidates with diverse skills that can be adapted to

many industrial situations.




- Voice Over -

"We supply local industry with multi-skilled technicians."


Student #1, "Multiple 1 data 1; so it will be right there."


- Voice Over -

"This person can handle the welding, the HVAC

requirements, the machine, the industry mechanics,

the industrial electrician, the PLC program, the Robotics

program, all of these are going to have to be

encompassed in one person one employee in order for

them to compete."


"Right there you’re missing something in your address.

So double click on that."


Student #2, "I was working at an aluminum plant

and I was a high candidate for supervisor, but they

wanted our supervisors to have the skills and knowledge

to work on PLC or motor controls or change a limit switch."


Let’s change to that red switch. 

Hit start button and start the circuit.


The students work installing a seal-in circuit, very much like

a relay circuit, except it's done in later logic which is for

programmable logic controllers.


Male Student, "We're going to have to branch it

around the stop switch."


Mike Deal, "How does that relate to what you learned

back in motor controls?"


Female Student, "In motor controls 1 and 2 we will wire in the

seal-in. As to here where it's done on the computer."


Motor Controls, PLCs', drive systems and things like that

these are core things you've just got to have. It's almost as

important as having a high school diploma.




Go to a plastic side.


We teach using a mechatronics trainer so the students

can see the integration of the four things that make up

mechatronics. They can see the fluid power, mechanical,

electrical, and the PLCs. How it integrates together to

produce a final product.


It let's us know it's going to pick

it up and then put the spool in there.


Jake Hildebrant, "We teach what's called a systems approach,

and what that means is we try to teach the students a system

and learn on the system and then we teach the theory

from that system."


(Machine Clicking)


Student #3, "It makes me very comfortable with technology

and my mechanical abilities as a whole is broad enough that I

don't have to limit myself to one specific job, and they were really

emphasize on what you really need to know as far as hands on training."


(Students working) "If I was going to give you my reverse

number six would give me forward."


Mike Deal, "When they come into the lab that's where we

challenge them to shows us that they know the content

frontwards and backwards. That's where we have problem

based scenarios that they have to be introduced to."


It's more a matter of lab coats and meters than it is wrenches and grease.


"You have control over the robot with this."


Mike Deal, "A lot of people still have the dirty hands image of

technical education and so much has changed with automation

and motion control and robotics and things that separates the

older generation technical work force from the new."




Student #2, "You're expected to be able to fix whatever the

problem is they call you and say, "We're not running we need

you to find what it is." Everybody from production, to the

maintenance management, plant manager, president, everybody

is depending on you to go in and diagnosis this problem and fix it.




For more information on anything you've seen today

explore our website at

Thanks for watching.

Advanced Integrated Technology

Mike DealHello!  My name is Mike Deal and I am the Program Coordinator for the Advanced Integrated Technology (AIT) program here at Madisonville Community College.  I’ve been with the MCC for 5 years and have 21 years of experience in advanced manufacturing and automation.

Today’s manufacturing is moving further and further away from manual labor jobs, and products made in the United States are being produced with high speed automation and robotics.  It’s how the US is staying competitive with foreign competition.  But there are few people in the workforce that can:
        • program the PLCs (industrial computers) that run the equipment 
        • program the robots that weld, assemble, and move the products being made
        • maintain, calibrate, and understand the manufacturing equipment and their controls
That’s where the AIT degree comes in.  You’ll become educated with classes in hydraulic, mechanical, electrical controls, as well as PLC and robotics programming... all online!  Plus, we have some of the most advanced training equipment in our lab that is used in the “real world”… not just in a classroom.  A person with this diverse skillset has the potential for job availability throughout the U.S.

If you’d like more information, I encourage you to contact me and schedule an appointment that will get your future moving in a right and promising direction!

The Advanced Integrated Technology (AIT) program, which offers 3 certificate options, integrates various technologies in order to educate you with a diverse skill needed in today's high-tech industrial, power plant, and health care settings. Upon completion of an AIT degree, you will be able to install, manage, maintain, calibrate, troubleshoot, repair, test, and inspect state of the art equipment and systems having a technologically diverse design.

Available Credentials

Articulation agreements with regional and in-state universities allow you to apply your credit hours awarded in the AIT program towards a bachelor's degree. The AIT curriculum is modularized. See how the content is divided.

Associate in Applied Science (AAS)



Employment Opportunities

Multi-Skilled Industrial Technician

Upon completing the Multi-Skilled Industrial Technician option you will have a diverse set of skills and knowledge needed to obtain employment in various settings including those within the manufacturing and industrial sectors. You will be able to perform a variety of multidisciplinary tasks traditionally performed by a number of field-specific technicians, thus providing a cost effective and highly sought alternative for employers.

Power Plant Technician

The Power Plant Technician option is designed for entry level positions in the Power Plant Industry as a multi-skilled technician. These industries include, but are not limited to positions in fossil fuel, hydro, nuclear, and alternative energy power plants. Also included are any industries where steam and electricity is generated. Imbedded within the curriculum is an Edison Electrical Institute Exam prep course to help graduates be better prepared to take the power plant entrance exam.

Admission Requirements


If you are transferring from the Manufacturing and Industrial Technology curriculum at another KCTCS institution you should use the MIT-to-AIT course map-over to see how your credits will transfer into the program.

Scholarship Information



Length of Program

Most students complete the program within two years. Due to the flexible on-site scheduling of laboratory course work and online delivery of instructional course work, the time it takes to complete the degree requirements will vary.

For more information

Mike Deal, AIT Coordinator
(270) 824-1992(270) 824-1992
