Advanced Diploma in Woodworking Technology (Co-op Optional)

at Conestoga College - Doon Campus Canada

Imagine pursuing your passion in the highly creative profession of visual merchandising. Visual merchandising is 'marketing' and 'branding' - designing and creating visuals to sell a product or service. It is the process of creating an inviting and interactive environment for the consumer utilizing a variety of mediums.

You will study fashion trend forecasting, costume design, colour theory, prop-making, drawing and painting, event planning, mannequin detailing, photography, graphic design, scale modeling, planograms, window display and commercial merchandising. This two-year diploma program focuses on project-based, hands-on learning for the creative problem solver! You will use cutting edge industry software to design three dimensional spaces and planograms.

If you are passionate about design and decorating spaces, you will enjoy learning the latest skills in our state-of-the-art studio complete with a 'retail store' within the space. Use your natural creative talent and experience the many opportunities to design and display your work within the community.

A field placement opportunity is provided to gain industry career experience before graduating, most often leading to full-time positions in the field of visual display and merchandising.
Conestoga is the only college offering Visual Merchandising Arts graduates the opportunity to earn a second two-year diploma in Interior Decorating in just one year! Successful students become even more marketable, capable of designing for both commercial interiors and home interiors!

This program is intended for students who wish to develop a basic level of competence in business. Students will study the principles of business organization, accounting, marketing, operations management, and business communications. Completion of the program will assist students to confirm their intentions and to define the business discipline they wish to study should they choose to continue with one of Conestoga's business or business administration programs. 

Upon completion of the program students will be able to transfer directly into the second semester of Business diploma programs: Business, Business Administration Management, Accounting and Supply Chain and Operations Management. Alternatively, students will receive up to 7 transfer credits towards other Business diploma programs. Students who achieve over 75% in their first semester can apply for an early transfer to Level 1 of Business or a Business Administration program should they choose to.

Consider this unique advanced diploma program delivered at one of the most advanced woodworking training facilities in North America. During the first year of the program, which is common with the Woodworking Technician program, you will spend a significant amount of time learning the set-up and operation of woodworking machinery and equipment, laminating, veneering, machining, sanding, assembly, and finishing. The second year, which is also common with the Woodworking Technician program, involves extensive project work, introduction to production management skills, manufacturing of kitchen cabinets, and architectural millwork. The final year of the program focuses on plant layout/support systems, materials handling, quality control, cost estimating, and computer-aided drafting. Levels 1, 2 and 3 of the trade schooling for an Ontario cabinetmaker apprenticeship are embedded in the program and this will provide you with a recognized advantage when starting your career. The co-op delivery mode affords students the opportunity to relate in-school training with real industrial experience. Due to the placement of co-op work terms, the academic semesters are fall/winter in year 1 and fall/spring in year 2 and winter/spring in Year 3. Levels 1, 2 and 3 of the trade schooling for an Ontario Cabinetmaker Apprenticeship are embedded in the program. Graduates of this program may be exempt from apprenticeship in-school training should they choose to pursue a Cabinetmaker Apprenticeship.The optional co-op stream includes three co-op work terms.

Applying to the co-op stream

• All applicants apply to the non co-op program. Students will be informed of the application deadline and process to apply for the Co-op Stream. Labour market conditions determine the number of co-op seats in optional co-op programs. Not every student who meets academic eligibility requirements will be admitted to the co-op stream.
• To be considered for admission to the co-op stream, students are required to achieve a minimum overall 70% session weighted average in Level 1 with no dropped or failed courses.
• Students who are not admitted into the Co-op stream or students in the non-co-op stream will have co-op semesters off instead of participating in co-op work terms. These off semesters enable students to gain part-time or full-time work or volunteer experience to build their resume and/or can catch up on academic work if scheduling permits.
• International students will require work permits to utilize the co-op job board for job search and to accept employment. Students are currently experiencing longer than usual wait times for work permits. Please be advised that there will be no co-op program service fee refunds after the program withdrawal for refund date. Students that have not received their work permit and choose to remain in co-op after the program withdrawal for refund date do so at their own risk and will not be refunded. If you are concerned about receiving your work permit in time to achieve co-op employment, please discuss your situation with your co-op advisor as early as possible.

Co-op information

• Co-op programs add value to your education. Earn money while you apply what you've learned in a real workplace environment. Visit Co-operative education for more information.
• The College cannot guarantee co-op employment. All co-op students are required to conduct an independent co-op job search in addition to the supports and services provided by the Department of Co-op Education.
• Students are responsible for their own transportation and associated costs in order to complete work term requirements. Work locations may not always be readily accessible by public transportation.

Process Quality Engineering
This advanced-level graduate certificate program provides individuals with the knowledge and techniques to improve the delivery and quality of products and services. The material that is taught in this program can be applied within any area of an organization. The focus of this program is on the achievement of performance excellence through the use of modern quality improvement methods. The program develops the skills required to perform process quality roles in a broad range of organizations and sectors.The program content aligns favourably with selected American Society of Quality's (ASQ) Bodies of Knowledge. This program is non-industry specific as it provides the proficiencies demanded by organizations in today’s market place.

Project Management
Learn how to manage simple to complex projects from start to finish, and become a critical part of an organization’s most exciting achievements. Develop the skills you need to oversee project management activities such as planning, managing scope, costs, time while balancing client expectations. Learn organizational Agility with practices such as Scrum. Establish goals for your project team and lead them to overcome obstacles to achieve success, meeting stakeholders needs. Earn project management education hours towards a variety of certifications: Certified Associate in Project Management (CAPM), Project Management Professional (PMP), Agile Scrum Master (ASM), Risk Management Professional (RMP), or Agile Certified Practitioner (ACP) designations. Interested in taking this program on a part-time basis? It's possible to complete this program while still working full-time and fulfilling your other commitments. 

This two-year purchasing program is designed to prepare the graduate for a professional career in the growing field of supply chain and logistics management. The central theme in the program curriculum is total cost of ownership. Businesses today are under unprecedented competitive pressures from around the world. The Business - Purchasing diploma program develops graduates with the skills necessary to contribute to the cost management, adaptability and quality efforts in their organizations, thereby ensuring a competitive advantage and long-term profitability.

An agreement exists with Supply Chain Canada that provides advanced standing in the Supply Chain Management Professional (SCMP) designation program. In addition, graduates may qualify for transfer credits that could be used for exemption from certain components of the CSCMP graduate program. As part of the requirements for the NIGP (National Institute for Governmental Purchasing) designation programs, CPPB (Certified Professional Public Buyer) and CPPO (Certified Public Procurement Officer), those students who have chosen and completed the optional Public Purchasing Course will comply with the requirement. They may also write the first CPIM (Certified in Production Inventory Management) exam towards their certification through ASCM (the professional Association for Supply Chain Management). Graduates can receive exemptions from the business course requirements within the Certified Logistics Professional designation (CCLP) program, administered by CITT (Canadian Institute of Traffic and Transportation).

This program would be of interest to graduates of engineering degree or diploma programs wanting to expand their knowledge into the practical applications of AC and DC power for motion and propulsion. In this program you will be provided with opportunities for practical training in various electrical lab environments. Applications of AC/DC motors, transformers, inverters, batteries and chargers as well as programmable logic controllers are explored. These types of technologies are typically found in electric drives operating throughout industrial manufacturing and primary industries such as pulp and paper, metals and mining, power generation, elevators, escalators as well as moving walkways and electric transportation systems. The program will help you develop leadership skills, as well as the ability to manage complex industrial processes and teams effectively in order to meet business goals. It includes quality assurance, process and project management with a focus on meeting challenges in an industrial environment from operational and strategic perspectives. By the time you graduate, you will have an understanding of advancements in manufacturing processes, communications, human resources and safety practices so you can effectively contribute in today's industrial sector.

Program Outcomes

• Integrate control system functions and tools to support automation solutions for new electrical equipment.
• Plan, design and maintain new control systems and networks to integrate with existing systems and equipment.
• Configure and maintain network motor, drive and control systems, ensuring correct grounding, isolation and protection.
• Prepare and use tools to audit and test control system networks to comply with industry specifications and standards
• Analyze control and system design models to ensure accurate customer requirements prior to implementation
• Make management level decisions within a production environment in alignment with organizational and strategic goals.
• Evaluate operating conditions for production equipment to ensure it is operated in compliance with occupational health and safety regulations and established standard operating procedures.
• Create written, oral and graphical communications that are professional and accurate.
• Negotiate and resolve conflict in an interdisciplinary setting to support an effective team environment.

The Pre-Health Sciences Pathway to Certificates and Diplomas program offers two semesters of full-time study. It is designed for students who wish to concentrate on the health sciences field and prepares students for application to Conestoga College's School of Health Sciences certificate and diploma programs. Students will be introduced to the health sciences field, to college life and college workload, and will be able to increase their competitiveness to support their application to health sciences programs.

Today's manufacturing sector requires highly skilled individuals with in-depth knowledge of current quality assurance and management practices. If you have the desire to be part of a quality movement, and want hands-on experience with the tools to support your career goals, then this program will be of interest to you. This two-semester Quality Assurance Manufacturing and Management Ontario College Graduate Certificate will provide you with the knowledge and techniques to improve the delivery and quality of goods and services. This program focuses on the use of modern quality improvement methods that support the achievement of performance excellence in manufacturing and associated business processes. A combination of theoretical and practical learning opportunities will prepare you for a variety of management and quality assurance organizational opportunities.

Program Outcomes

• Implement and document quality processes that ensure conformance to international quality standards.
• Evaluate the results of experiments for process improvement and product development to form recommendations using various process improvement tools.
• Evaluate quality issues, opportunities, and performance metrics using current and relevant tools such as Statistical Process Control (SPC) and Root Cause Analysis.
• Lead advanced product quality planning activities in an industrial environment using accepted quality assurance techniques including Failure Modes and Effects Analysis (FMEA) and Production Part Approval Process (PPAP).
• Plan the implementation of quality management processes within an industrial organization using accepted philosophies.
• Select the correct device or instrument to accurately measure product parameters and conduct a Measurement System Analysis (MSA).
• Conduct audits for Quality and Environmental systems in order to report findings and recommendations to both internal and external stakeholders.
• Apply test procedures and techniques to confirm that product design requirements are met.
• Communicate technical information effectively to customers and various internal stakeholders in management, engineering, manufacturing, marketing, and sales.
• Interpret information from a variety of technical and specialized sources to support quality processes.

The Occupational Health, Safety and Wellness (OHSW) graduate program provides a focused body of knowledge and skills for individuals interested in developing and building their knowledge and skills in occupational health, safety and wellness. In today's work environment, a balance of work and personal wellness is critical from both the personal and organizational perspective. The workplace is a priority target setting for health promotion initiatives as set out by the World Health Organization, with the end goals of protecting and promoting both individual and organizational well-being. Therefore, employers are required to manage occupational health, safety and wellness from a legal perspective, and have moral and ethical imperatives to do so. Additionally, there is an economic advantage to employers who seek to maximize productivity and engagement in the workplace since healthy workers are more productive, more engaged, and have lower absenteeism and presenteeism rates.

The program is designed to provide students with a solid foundation in how occupational health, safety and wellness initiatives can be developed and implemented in businesses and organizations to address these imperatives. Students will research and analyze existing health, safety and wellness trends and utilize that research to develop programs that address health, safety and wellness concerns within the workplace.

This advanced-level graduate certificate program provides individuals with the knowledge and techniques to improve the delivery and quality of products and services. The material that is taught in this program can be applied within any area of an organization. The focus of this program is on the achievement of performance excellence through the use of modern quality improvement methods. The program develops the skills required to perform process quality roles in a broad range of organizations and sectors.The program content aligns favourably with selected American Society of Quality's (ASQ) Bodies of Knowledge. This program is non-industry specific as it provides the proficiencies demanded by organizations in today’s market place.