Sonny Moua

Hometown: Magazine
Age: 26
Where I trained: University of Arkansas–Fort Smith
What I earned: Technical certificate
Job title: Automation Technician
Employer: ABB in Fort Smith

Sonny was attending a career convention at the University of Arkansas–Fort Smith with a friend when they stumbled upon ABB, a company centered around robotics and automation. In the midst of pursuing an associate degree, Sonny decided to apply for a full-time position in robotics at ABB and was hired a few months later.

Sonny says that this career choice has given him opportunities to learn many different skills and not be tied down to a specific job. He loves working with the latest technology and learning his strengths and weaknesses. “This job keeps me on my toes because it’s not just based on one specific machine or field,” he says. “I work on anything from mechanical breakdowns, automation, troubleshooting programmable logic controllers, electrical troubleshooting/wiring and more.”

What does an electro-mechanical technician do?

Electro-mechanical technicians operate automated and robotic equipment. They use both electrical and mechanical expertise to maintain and repair the manufacturing equipment, typically found in a factory setting.

Responsibilities

► Comprehend equipment manuals, blueprints, schematics and diagrams to assemble and repair equipment

► Operate automated, robotic and electro-mechanical equipment to make products

► Evaluate new technologies

► Install electronic systems and upgrade existing systems

► Use measuring instruments to test assemblies and robotic equipment

► Document test results and analysis

Education Needed

Associate degree or technical certificate

Job Outlook

There will be jobs for the taking. A recent study^* revealed that, at its present pace, the automation and robotics industry will face a job shortage of 2 million workers over the next decade.

 High-end earners in Arkansas (top 10%) make
$93,450 Annually
 Median wages in Arkansas
$58,350 Annually
$29.05 Hourly

This option is for you if:

► You want to do something new every day.
► You consider yourself a techie.
► You don’t mind studying and working hard.
► You have a knack for fixing things.
► You're a critical thinker.

START YOUR TRAINING

READY TO HIRE YOU

"This job keeps me on my toes because it’s not just based on one machine or field. This way, every day doesn't consist of the same [thing.]" –Sonny

*TheManufacturingInstitute.org with Boston Consulting Group and Deloitte | Sources: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and CareerOneStop.org

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