Associate Degree in Applied Technologies (Advanced Manufacturing)

The Associate Degree in Applied Technologies (Advanced Manufacturing) is a two-year qualification taught at TAFE Queensland. It sits between a trade qualification and a full engineering degree, and it is built around the kind of work advanced manufacturing employers actually need done: setting up and programming automated equipment, reading and producing technical drawings, monitoring production quality, and solving problems on a factory floor when something stops working.

How the course is structured

As an Australian associate degree, this course is normally delivered over four semesters (or the trimester equivalent) across two years of full-time study. You complete a sequence of units of study, each carrying credit points, and you need to pass the required units to graduate. The exact unit list, credit point values and any elective choices are set by TAFE Queensland, so confirm them on the official course page before you apply. Expect a mix of classroom theory, workshop and laboratory sessions, and project work. Many associate degrees in this field finish with a capstone project where you take a real manufacturing problem and work it through from concept to a working solution.

What you study and the skills you build

Advanced manufacturing covers the technology behind modern production: computer-aided design and drafting, computer numerically controlled (CNC) machining, industrial automation and control systems, robotics, hydraulics and pneumatics, materials and processes, quality assurance, and lean manufacturing principles. You also build the supporting skills employers ask for, interpreting engineering drawings, using measurement and testing equipment, working safely around machinery, documenting your work, and communicating with tradespeople, engineers and supervisors. TAFE Queensland delivers this kind of training in workshops with industry-standard equipment, so much of your learning is hands-on rather than purely theoretical.

Who it suits

This course suits people who like working with machines and technology and want more responsibility than a trade alone provides, but who are not looking for a full four-year engineering degree. It also suits people already working in manufacturing who want to formalise their skills and move into technical, supervisory or planning roles. Because TAFE Queensland has strong links with local industry, there may be opportunities for work-integrated learning or placement as part of your studies, check the official page for what is currently offered. International students should note that a Student visa generally allows up to 48 hours of work per fortnight while your course is in session, and graduates may be eligible for the Temporary Graduate visa (subclass 485) post-study work stream, subject to the Department of Home Affairs requirements. English proficiency is required for international applicants, with IELTS Academic 6.0–6.5 overall commonly accepted for courses at this level; check the official page for the exact requirement and accepted equivalents.

• Advanced manufacturing technician or technologist
• CNC machinist or programmer
• Automation or robotics technician
• Production planner or scheduler
• Quality assurance officer in manufacturing
• Maintenance planner in a processing plant
• Technical sales or support for manufacturing equipment suppliers
• Team leader or supervisor on a production line

These roles are found across Australian manufacturing sectors including food and beverage processing, mining equipment and services, defence industry supply chains, pharmaceutical production, building products, and transport equipment. Employers range from small precision engineering workshops to large processing plants and original equipment manufacturers.