Ready for a career with growth opportunities?

Whether you’re entering the workforce, feeling stuck in your current job, or looking for a higher-paying path, the CNC Operater program can give you the skill to pay the bills.    

High-demand,opportunities:

Northeast Arkansas has hundreds of CNC operator jobs with average wages over $48,000 per year with many earning much more with premium pay.  Earning the CNC Lather Operator credential gives you a strong advantage in landing these role as well as other machine operator roles. Area employers who recruit for these positions are Hytrol, ABB, Best Manufacturing and Martin Sprocket & Gear to name a few. 

Fast, flexible, industry-driven training:

This program was built with input from local manufacturers. It prepares you for an entry level operator position within a modern advanced manufacturing facility using both virtual training and hands-on CNC labs.

• Finish in 10 weeks or less
• Gain hands on CNC Operator training 
• Gain a high demand skill

What you’ll learn: CNC Operator training is organized into four targeted modules that build essential production skills:

Safety (25 hours online, 8 hours lab)

• Generial Industry OSHA 10 Card
• ASUN Certificate
• Credly Badge

Quality Practices (20 hours online, 6 hours lab)

• Credly Badge
• ASUN Certificate Production

CNC Lathe Operation (45 hours lab)

• Operate CNC controlled turning centers,
• Explore CNC lathe setup, and
• Introduction to Haas Lathe intuitive programming system. 

CNC Lab will run May 27th through July 17th, Tuesdays and Thursday 9:00-noon. 

WorkKeys National Career Readiness Certficate (7 hours)-measures and certifies the foundational work skills needed for success in jobs across industries and occupations

Additionally, students may receive up to 6 college credits through the Prior Learning Assessment (PLA) process if they choose to continue into a technology Certificate of Proficiency (CP), Technical Certificate (TC), or Associate of Applied Science (AAS) degree.

Ready for a Better Career in Manufacturing?

The Production Associate Program is your best first step into high-demand manufacturing careers. Designed for individuals new to manufacturing, this program builds the essential skills employers look for in entry-level roles such as assembler, manufacturing associate, and machine operator. It’s ideal for high school students, dislocated workers, and career changers ready to move into a stable, well-paying industry.

You’ll gain hands-on training in core manufacturing fundamentals, including:

• Safety (OSHA standards and risk prevention)
• Effective Communication
• Quality Practices & Precision Measurement
• Process Awareness and Documentation

This credential is built on the Manufacturing Skill Standards Council (MSSC) Certified Production Technician (CPT) framework, giving you a strong foundation and a competitive edge.

The Production Associate is just the beginning. Your training can be stacked into advanced, higher-paying certifications such as:

• Certified Production Technician (CPT)
• Packaging Machine Operator
• CNC Lathe Operator
• Production Welder

All MSSC credentials are nationally recognized and ISO/IEC 17024 accredited, trusted by manufacturers nationwide.

Finish in 6 weeks or less

• Hybrid, approximately 40 hours of online content plus 20 hours of in-person labs/instruction.
• Schedule labs around your life
• Earn up to five certificates and one full industry credential
• Combination of online learning and hands-on labs
• Designed with input from local manufacturers

Northeast Arkansas has 5,000+ open production jobs, with average wages exceeding $45,000 per year—and even more with premium pay. Completing the Production Associate credential gives you a strong advantage in landing these roles.

ASUN helps you every step of the way with job search assistance, résumé support, and interview preparation. Employers are actively looking for graduates with these skills.

Whether you’re entering the workforce, feeling stuck, or ready for a higher-paying path, the Production Associate Program can open the door to a future in advanced manufacturing.

Course Description:

This 4 day training program will provide the student with the knowledge and skills to identify, install, configure and troubleshoot a closed loop motion control system in the Studio5000 architecture. In addition, students will learn specific programming instructions used for motion control in Studio5000 ladder logic programs. Students will also learn how to interface Studio5000 systems with the Kinetix 5500 Servo Drives, as well as an overview of the Kinetix 5700 Servo Drives. " Overview of Motion Control Concepts " Hardware Description & Wiring Connections of Kinetix 5500/5700 Servo Drives " Adding Drives and Configuring Axes for Integrated Motion on an CIP EtherNet/IP Network " Tuning and Testing an Axis " Motion Instructions Control Structures " Basic Motion Instructions (MSO, MSF, MASD, MASR, MAFR, MAH, MAS, MAJ, MRP, MAG) " Advanced (Camming) Motion Instructions (MCD, MCCP, MAPC) " System Troubleshooting Prequisite: Students should have attended the AMTI Level 1 PLC course (or equivalent experience). It is strongly recommended that the student has also attended the AMTI VFD course (or equivalent experience).

Ken Walsh started his career as an Electrical Engineer developing automated sawmill equipment. He worked for Rockwell Automation for just under 20 years as a field support engineer where he saw applications everywhere imaginable. Ken is also a proud Vietnam era veteran.

• Experience in Automation Systems, software, System Design, Pneumatics, Electric Motor Drives, Panel Design, logic controllers, HMI project management, startup, troubleshooting and repair with disciplines applied across a multitude of industries.
• Broad knowledge of general automation, networks, motion control, drive systems and process control that spans across multiple control vendors.
• Experience with networks and communications includes: Controlnet, Devicenet, Ethernet, Modbus.

Ready to spark a stronger future?

The manufacturing industry depends on skilled welders who build, repair, and strengthen the equipment and structures that keep production moving. Arkansas State University–Newport’s Welding Program opens the door to high-demand careers where precision, safety, and craftsmanship matter every day. In just a few months, you’ll gain the technical knowledge, hands-on lab experience, and industry-recognized credentials that employers across Arkansas are actively seeking.

Whether you’re entering the workforce for the first time or looking for a new direction, this training provides a competitive edge, practical experience, and a direct pathway to employment. It’s your opportunity to build a career with stability, strong wages, and long-term growth potential.

Class Times:

Monday to Thursday - 8:30 - 11:30

Students will be required to complete 4 hours per week of online content.

PROGRAM OUTCOMES

Students will be equipped with the foundational employability skills—such as work ethic, communication, teamwork, and problem-solving—needed to obtain and succeed in entry-level employment or advance in education and training.

Students will develop the knowledge and skills required to maintain a safe manufacturing workplace, identify hazards, follow regulatory safety procedures, and promote safe equipment operation and safety culture.

Students will develop the competencies in quality systems, measurement, inspection, data analysis, and continuous improvement to ensure products meet manufacturing specifications.

Students will gain the techncial skills to be competetive for hire as an entry level production worker or entry levle MIG welder. Upon completion, students should be able to perform fillet welds on carbon steel with prescribed electrodes in the flat and horizontal positions.

PROGRAM COURSES

Job Readiness

• Workplace Essentials
• Durable skills

 Workplace Safety

• Generial Industry OSHA 10 Card
• ASUN Certificate
• Manufacturing Skills Standards Counsel Certficate
• Credly Badge

Quality Practices & Measurement 

• Credly Badge
• ASUN Precision Measurement Certificate
• Manufacturing Skills Standards Counsel Certficate

Production Welding 

• Hands-On Experience
• 48 hours: hands-on welding training
• ASUN Certificate
• Opportunity to Earn AWS Flat Weld Certification
  

Students must be 17 at the start of the program and attend orientation.

This comprehensive 6-hour course will teach you how to summarize data using these powerful Excel tools, enabling you to create summary reports and charts. With Power Query and Power Pivot, you'll learn to import data from multiple sources, manipulate it, and then review the consolidated data in a pivot table using multiple tables.

This class is a perfect for those who having been using Excel for years but don't know how to use these advanced features for data visualization and analysis.

This course covers basic skills including basic parts of an Excel window, formatting, alignment, indenting, merging cells; creating a simple spreadsheet with formulas, functions, format painter, absolute reference, freezing columns and rows, split windows, copy & paste, paste special, using multiple windows of the same file, printing options, creating charts and graphs, non-adjacent cells, and mail merges.

Excel Level 1 is a great introductory class for those who are starting their Excel journey or would like to know more. Participants should already know how to find a file given a path, have basic math skills, know how to use a mouse and keyboard. Objectives in Level 1 are formatting, inputting data, creating formulas and functions, format painter, absolute reference, viewing and printing options, comments/notes, creating a template and how to use an Excel database to create a mail merge using Word.

This course covers naming a range, specialprinting titles of rows & columns, paste between work-sheets, pasting values and links, viewing and workingwith multiple work-sheets, 3D formulas,  protecting a workbook \ worksheet, & cells, checking for duplicates, Excel as a database, autofilters, slicers,and creating a graph with two axis.

Excel Level 2 is a continuation of Level 1, participants should have those skills before taking Excel Level 2. Course objectives are how to work with multiple files and worksheets, naming a range and benefits, sorting and filtering data using Excel as a database, tables and their benefits, data validation, sub-totals, Pivot Tables, conditional formatting, graphs with two axis and sparklines.

Power BI (Business Intelligence) works with many data sources (Excel, Access, SQL Server, and etc.) todevelop an interactive data visualization, or dashboard, giving valuable insights for business reviews and decisions. Those who work with data from multiple sources, to create reports regarding data analysis, marketing, sales, inventory control, production, education, and etc. will benefit most from this course.Requires experience with Excel or other computer applications dealing with data, and different database type software. You should be comfortable developing reports such as PivotTables and charts in Excel.