The January Spotlight shines on Precision Machining and Manufacturing Program

instructor Michael Hughes
The Columbiana County Career and Technical Center (CCCTC) has been a beacon of career and technical education for students of Columbiana County since its inception in 1977.
Four years ago, the pandemic forced a change in how we did things, and we were fortunate to have local newspapers willing to assist us in getting the word out to county students and families about our programs through a series of monthly articles.
While things have returned to normal, this new normal allowed the CCCTC to usher in some significant changes during the last four years.
The building has had major renovations to align the lab settings with the industries in the community that are being served and to provide the students with the 21st skills they need by learning with cutting-edge technology and equipment.
Along with renovations, a new program has been added and several new lab instructors have joined the staff. Friendly and familiar faces people have known for years have been replaced with new friendly faces due to staff members meeting the service year and age requirements for retirement.
So, during the remainder of the school year, the changes that have occurred at the CCCTC will be highlighted to keep the community informed about the state of career and technical education in their county.
Current sophomore students who are interested in enrolling in a program for the 2025-26 school year are invited to do so by visiting the CCCTC’s webpage (https://www.ccctc.k12.oh.us) and completing the enrollment application which will be available starting January 1, 2025.
Any questions about the programs or the requirements for enrollment should be directed to Sue Allison, guidance administrator, at (330) 424-9561 ext. 118 or sue.allison@ccctc.k12.oh.us.
The subject of the January spotlight is the Precision Machining and Manufacturing Program (PMM). While it is an established program, it is still one of the newer programs in the building.
What is quite new though is the instructor, Mr. Michael Hughes, who is in his second year of teaching this program. The popularity of this program stems from the wide array of options students have to choose from upon graduation after completing the two-year program.
It does not cater to just students who want to enter the workforce or just students who want to pursue post-secondary education, but instead, it meets the needs of both those seeking immediate employment as well as those seeking higher education.
Benefits of Being a
Student in the Program
The Precision Machining and Manufacturing program provides many benefits to the students of Columbiana County. One of the benefits that largely influences students to apply to be in the program is that there are countless jobs available locally. Students who are happy living in Columbiana County can find a well-paying career without having to move far away from their family and friends.
Not only are the jobs local, but those positions offer a salary that allow students to become self-sufficient adults with wages ranging from $14/hr as an entry level Production Saw Operator to over $35/hr as an experienced Machinist. Pursuing a career in the field of machining means students can be assured that the money is there for those willing to learn and work for it.
Another huge benefit is that this particular program isn’t strictly aimed towards making everyone a machinist. There is a career within this field for everyone.
Companies need laborers willing to do entry level jobs just as much as they need someone capable of running a machine. While enrolled in the program, students learn every aspect and level of the machining field including doing the dirty work by learning necessary skills as how to properly clean up as well as the more advanced skills such as learning how to use precision measuring tools, running manual mills and lathes, learning the basics of CNC coding, how to use CAD/CAM software, and how to set up and operate HAAS CNC Machines.
While the technical skills are important, so are the soft skills such as teamwork, adaptability, problem solving, and creative/critical thinking just to name a few. The background a student in PMM gains also prepares them for post-secondary education.
If being a Mechanical Engineer is a life goal for a student, this program is an excellent stepping stone to get your feet wet and learn how to read blueprints as well as how parts are machined. Oftentimes the best engineers have previously been machinists.
The final benefit is that the instructor is fresh out of industry, and he has solid industry connections and knows the expectations of employers so that he can teach the students exactly what the employers want them to know.
Credentials and Articulation
Agreements for the Program
Career-Technical Education not only prepares students for the workforce, but also allows them to start on their post-secondary path.
Students who put effort into learning will leave the CCCTC with the credentials they need to successfully enter straight into the workforce.
All students enrolled in the CCCTC’s Precision Machining and Manufacturing program become certified in OSHA-10. Students also have the opportunity to earn the following NIMS (National Institute for Metalworking Skills) credentials upon successful completion of the course: Measurement, Materials, and Safety; Job Planning, Benchwork, and Layout; Drill Press I; Milling I; Turning I (Chucking Skills); Turning I (Between Centers); Grinding I; CNC Lathe Operations; CNC Lather Programming, Setup, and Operations; CNC Mill Operations; and CNC Mill Programming, Setup, and Operations.
Another benefit to students is that the Precision Machining and Manufacturing Program has an articulation agreement with two institutions of higher learning. Successful completion of the PMM course and meeting all eligibility requirements while in high school can earn students college credit towards a degree in the field.
The first agreement is with The University of Akron where students can earn three college credits for the Manufacturing Processes course and three college credits for the Fundamentals of Engineering Drawing 1 course leading to an AAS Advanced Manufacturing Engineering Technology degree.
The second agreement is with Lorain County Community College leading to an AAS Manufacturing Engineering Technology- Computer Aided degree. At this institution, students would earn credit for two courses- Manufacturing Processes 1 and Electrical Circuits 1.
Essentially, students receive credit for the classes for free and start college with some of the required coursework already completed giving them a head start over students who did not complete a career and technical program in Precision Machining and Manufacturing.
There are options for providing students opportunities to earn accelerated and dual enrollment credit: Career-Tech Assurance Guides (CTAG), bilateral agreements and College Credit Plus. The Precision Machining and Manufacturing course at the CCCTC would be the CTAG pathway. CTAGs provide free direct college transcript credit for the associated equivalent college course at any in-state, public university upon matriculation.
Student Spotlight
An exemplary student for the PMM program is Athan Mays. Athan is a senior from Crestview Local High School.
He is currently working at ACE Hardware. Athan is a proactive student and has already applied, been accepted, and enrolled in Youngstown State University to major in Mechanical Engineering for the fall of 2025.
Athan has earned 16 points for his Industry Credentials. He has earned several NIMS Credentials including: Measurement, Materials, and Safety; Job Planning, Benchwork, and Layout; Manual Milling Skills, and Drill Press 1.
Athan is an exemplary student not just for the credentials he has earned but because of his work ethic, critical/creative thinking skills, problem solving skills, and his ability to work well with others. His strong combination of both hard skills and soft skills will lead him down the path of success in life.
As Athan would say, “The goal is to have my name on the sign” and it is likely everyone will see his name on the sign of his own business one day.
Instructor Spotlight
Michael Hughes graduated from Salem High School in 2012. During his time as a student there, he took the Machine Trades program his junior and senior years. His instructor for the program was Matt Peters, CCCTC’s previous Precision Machining and Manufacturing instructor.
It is a testament to Mr. Hughes that his former teacher had so much respect for his abilities that he suggested to Mr. Hughes that he should apply for the job and then gave him a glowing recommendation to replace him in the classroom when Mr. Peters made the choice to leave the teaching profession.
After graduating from Salem, Mr. Hughes worked locally at Butech Bliss, BOC Water Hydraulics, and Salem Welding. He also became a Journeyman Machinist during this time.
Mr. Hughes states, “While I enjoyed being a machinist, after starting a family of my own, the long hours and steady overtime in the shop started to become less fulfilling.
Teaching has given me the opportunity to spend more time with my family, and has allowed me to pass on my knowledge to the younger generation and watch them grow and learn a valuable skill. Watching them learn something new that will give them the opportunity to become successful adults is great. Not everyone has the same upbringing, and it’s not all pretty. You learn a lot about your students when you spend three hours a day with each of them. Knowing that I have the chance to possibly change a kid’s life as an adult is one of the best feelings.”
Mr. Hughes brings not only a wealth of knowledge to his position, but he is a genuine, caring individual who wants to provide the best education he can for his students so that he can celebrate their future successes with them.
CCCTC’s Precision Machining and Manufacturing Program
Benefits Local Industry
When an individual gets online and looks for employment, it seems that everyone is hiring. Everyone needs workers, and it’s becoming a bigger and bigger issue trying to find quality workers.
There are so many more new opportunities for people today than there were 20 years ago, or even 10 years ago. The jobs available out there are endless.
The students who successfully complete the PMM program will have had the opportunity over their two years to learn a hands-on skill that they will be able to use, and those skills will allow them to confidently apply for a job in the field with enough basic knowledge to be a trainable and reliable employee.
A benefit for local businesses is that none of the students graduating from the program will have had time to develop “bad habits” and will be excellent young additions for those looking to get younger workers to grow with their companies or start replacing those retiring.
In two years, students with perfect attendance will have spent 1,062 hours at the CCCTC, roughly 6 months of a “full-time” 40-hour work week, so businesses will be able to hire someone who understands what the job is like.
This means that the large number of local companies searching for the right person to fill those positions can feel at ease hiring a student that successfully completed the PMM program at the CCCTC.
Any student who is interested in enrolling in the Precision Machining and Manufacturing program should complete the online application at ccctc.k12.oh.us.
In order to secure a spot in the program of choice, students should enroll by April 1 before programs begin to fill up, so don’t delay on enrolling today.
Any questions about the programs can be directed to Sue Allison at extension 118 (sue.allison@ccctc.k12.oh.us) or Michelle Fitzsimmons at extension 158 (michelle.fitzsimmons@ccctc.k12.oh.us) at the Columbiana County Career and Technical Center.