Wood Manufacturing - Nova Scotia Community CollegeWood Products and Manufacturing Education in CanadaCarpentry and Woodworking Programs -- Community College Programs
PROGRAM WEBSITE
Wood Manufacturing - Nova Scotia Community College Wood manufacturing involves assembling, constructing, designing, finishing, and, at times, refinishing, repairing, and/or restoring products made of wood, wood substances, or wood substitutes such as cabinets, furniture, fixtures, and millwork. Wood manufacturing is a trade in which practitioners must possess precision, particularly in measuring and cutting, and strong mathematical and problem-solving abilities and work habits. Professions related to Wood Manufacturing include Cabinetmaking, Carpentry, Millwork, Planermill, Refinishing, and Woodworking. Nova Scotia Community College 2-year Wood Manufacturing diploma is designed for individuals interested in a career, career advancement, and/or further educational opportunities in wood manufacturing and/or related fields. The Program will provide students 'with instruction and practice in the design and manufacture of furniture, cabinets, millwork, and other wood products' as well as with 'a sound knowledge of wood and composite products, together with production equipment, finishing materials, industry related software, and construction techniques.' Furthermore, participants will learn about small business management thus acquiring a business background enabling them start a business or assume managerial or supervisory roles at their place of employment. Students will also have the opportunity to partake in an optional Co-operative Education course. The latter 'provides an opportunity for paid employment between the first and second year of' the 'program, while completing the learning outcomes of the course.' Co-ops additionally provide 'learning opportunities beyond the bounds of the classroom giving you a well-rounded education enriched by practical application,' and 'can be considered' one's bridge to post-diploma employment. As part of the Program, and indeed as part of the profession in general, the student will be 'expected to develop a portfolio of' his/her work. The 'portfolio is a powerful and convincing way to demonstrate' one's 'achievements to future employers over and above a standard resume' and is 'a good way to observe the development of' one's 'skills and abilities throughout' one's career. To be eligible for admission to the Wood Manufacturing program, applicants must possess a secondary school diploma or equivalent. Graduates will be ready to pursue employment, career advancement, and/or further training in woodworking and related areas. Wood manufacturers are most often employed indoors in various aspects of the construction, wood, and wood products manufacturing industries by, for instance, individuals, companies, custom or repair shops, or through self employment. Among the most common employers are construction firms, furniture manufacturers, repairers, retailers, and stores and millwork companies. It is not unusual for woodworkers to labour in a shop environment in which they are exposed to high levels of noise, various dust particles, and chemicals, especially from paint. Individuals who aspire to advance their careers in wood manufacturing may be interested in pursuing further educational opportunities to refine and enhance their abilities, particularly via an apprenticeship. The latter is a method of learning a trade through a combination of periods of in-class, technical/theoretical education and periods of paid, on-the-job training. During the latter portions of an apprenticeship, the student (apprentice) will work, in an indentured capacity, under the direction of a certified, journeyperson member of the trade one is learning. A journeyperson is an individual who has earned the standards of practice of his/her trade, typically via the completion of an apprenticeship. Graduates of the Woodworking diploma may be eligible to receive advanced credits towards an apprenticeship program. The advantage of completing an apprenticeship is not only that one acquires in-depth knowledge and skills in a trade but also that, within the latter, one's career opportunities and salary potential are normally increased. Furthermore, once an individual has obtained journeyperson status, he/she may be eligible to have his/her certification as such endorsed by the Interprovincial Standards Red Seal Program (Red Seal). The latter enables the journeyperson to practice his/her trade throughout Canada, provided the trade is designated in that locale, without undergoing further examinations. Woodworkers who earn journeyperson status may, after obtaining several years of experience beyond an apprenticeship, become educators, supervisors, and/or trainers of their trade.
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