The SHSM–Manufacturing enables students to build a foundation of sector-focused knowledge and skills before graduating and entering apprenticeship training, college, university, or an entry-level position in the workplace. Students are exposed to a wide variety of careers in the manufacturing sector, from broad areas such as programming, operation, service, and repair to more specific areas such as robotics and advanced manufacturing.

Required Components for the SHSM–Manufacturing

The SHSM–Manufacturing has the following five required components:

1. A bundle of nine Grade 11 and Grade 12 credits

These credits make up the bundle:

  • four manufacturing major credits that provide sector-specific knowledge and skills. The four courses must include any combination of Grade 11 and Grade 12 credits, and may include up to three cooperative education credits related to the sector. (These cooperative education credits would be additional to the two that are required in the bundle; see below);
  • three other required credits from the Ontario curriculum. Schools may commit to including a contextualized learning activity (CLA) for the manufacturing sector in each of the three credits. In each credit, some of the course expectations are then met through the CLA. (Schools that do not formally commit to including CLAs are still free to offer them in one or more of the credits.) The three credits include:
    • one in English;footnote 1
    • one in mathematics; and
    • one of the following:
      • for the apprenticeship training, college, and university pathways – one in science or an additional major credit or an additional cooperative education credit related to the sector, which would be additional to the two cooperative education credits required in the bundle; see below;
      • for the workplace pathway – an additional credit in English (Grade 12)
  • two cooperative education credits that provide authentic learning experiences in a workplace setting, enabling students to refine, extend, apply, and practise knowledge and skills outlined in the cooperative education curriculum as well as sector-specific knowledge and skills
Credits

Apprenticeship
Training
Grades 11–12

College
Grades 11–12

University
Grades 11–12

Workplace
Grades 11–12

Major Credits
May include up to 3 cooperative education credits related to the sector (this is in addition to the 2 required cooperative education credits)

4

4

4

4

English may include a CLA

1

1

1

2

Mathematics may include a CLA

1

1

1

1

Science may include a CLA
May be substituted with 1 additional major credit or 1 cooperative education credit (this is in addition to the 2 required cooperative education credits)

 

1

1

1

not required

Cooperative Education

2

2

2

2

Total number of credits

9

9

9

9

2. Sector-recognized certifications and/or training courses/programs

This SHSM sector requires students to complete a specified number of compulsory and elective sector-recognized certifications and/or training courses/programs, as indicated in the following table. Note: Where an item in the table is capitalized, it is the proper name of the specific certification or training course/program that is appropriate for the SHSM. Where an item is lowercased, it is the name of an area, type, or category of training for which specific certifications or training courses/programs should be selected by the school or board. The requirements are summarized in the table below.

Three (3) compulsory

  • Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR)Level C –  include automated external defibrillation (AED)
  • Standard First Aid
  • Workplace Hazardous Materials Information System (WHMIS) – generic (i.e., not site-specific) instruction

Three (3) electives from the following

  • advanced training in a technique
  • anti-oppression and allyship training
  • Basic Safety Orientation (BSO Plus)
  • computer-aided design and computer-aided manufacturing (CAD/CAM)
  • customer service
  • fall protection
  • first aid/CPR/AED awareness
  • health and safety – basic
  • infection control
  • Lean Manufacturing
  • personal protective equipment – manufacturing
  • project management
  • safe lifting
  • sector-specific software 1
  • specialized skills training program/competition (e.g., Skills Canada provincial level)
  • Working at Heights
  • advanced training in a technology
  • basic electrical safety
  • Canadian Welding Bureau (CWB) – flat
  • confined space awareness
  • elevated work platforms
  • fire safety and fire extinguisher use
  • handling dangerous substances
  • hoisting and rigging
  • leadership skills
  • lockout/tagging
  • portfolio development
  • propane safety
  • scaffold safety
  • sector-specific vehicle operation and safety
  • transportation of dangerous goods

3. Experiential learning and career exploration activities

Experiential learning and career exploration opportunities relevant to the sector might include the following:

  • one-on-one observation of a cooperative education student at a placement in the manufacturing sector (an example of job twinning)
  • a day-long observation of a skilled tradesperson in the manufacturing sector (an example of job shadowing)
  • a one- or two-week work experience with a member of an industry association or a professional in the sector (an example of work experience)
  • participation in a local, provincial, or national Skills Canada competition
  • a tour of a range of manufacturing enterprises
  • attendance at a manufacturing trade show, conference, or job fair
  • attendance at demonstrations and hands-on activities presented by equipment vendors

4. Reach ahead experiences

Students are provided one or more reach ahead experiences – opportunities to take the next steps along their chosen pathway – as shown in the following examples:

  • Apprenticeship: visiting an approved apprenticeship delivery agent in the sector
  • College: interviewing a college student enrolled in a sector-specific program
  • University: observing a university class in a sector-related program
  • Workplace: interviewing an employee in the sector

5. Sector-partnered experiences (SPEs)

Students engage with a sector partner and apply skills to gain insight into the relationship between this sector and ICE (innovation, creativity, and entrepreneurship), coding, and/or mathematical literacy.

Occupations in the Manufacturing Sector

The following table provides examples of occupations in the justice, community safety, and emergency services sector, sorted according to the type of postsecondary education or training the occupations would normally require.

Apprenticeship Training

  • Construction millwrights and industrial mechanics 
  • Electricians (except industrial and power system) 
  • Industrial electricians 
  • Industrial instrument technicians and mechanics 
  • Machinists and machining and tooling inspectors 
  • Precision structural metal and platework fabricators and fitters 
  • Tool and die makers 
  • Welders and related machine operators 

College

  • Chemical technologists and technicians 
  • Drafting technologists and technicians 
  • Electrical and electronics engineering technologists and technicians 
  • Industrial engineering and manufacturing technologists and technicians 
  • Industrial instrument technicians and mechanics 
  • Mechanical engineering technologists and technicians 
  • Other administrative services managers 
  • Purchasing agents and officers 
  • Purchasing and inventory control workers 
  • Technical sales specialists – wholesale trade 

University

  • Chemical engineers 
  • Computer engineers (except software engineers and designers) 
  • Electrical and electronics engineers 
  • Industrial and manufacturing engineers 
  • Mechanical engineers 
  • Metallurgical and materials engineers 

Workplace

  • Foundry workers 
  • Machining tool operators 
  • Material handlers 
  • Motor vehicle assemblers, inspectors, and testers 
  • Purchasing and inventory control workers 

Footnotes

  • footnote[1] Back to paragraph Note that a compulsory English credit is required in Grade 11 and in Grade 12 for graduation with an OSSD. Schools may determine whether the CLA, if offered, is completed in the Grade 11 or Grade 12 English course.