Texas Border Business
By Joey Gomez
McALLEN, Texas – For Jose Vasquez, starting at South Texas College after nearly seven years away from the classroom opened the door to more than a new career choice – it was his introduction to the future of manufacturing.
One year since first stepping foot into STC’s Advanced Manufacturing Technology (AMT) program, Vasquez, 34, recently walked across the graduation stage this spring to earn his certificate in Robotics and Mechatronics. He said STC gave him a clear pathway forward that matched his ambitions and interests.
Within the AMT program, Vasquez said he not only discovered a renewed sense of purpose, but he also received firsthand experience with Artificial Intelligence (AI) for manufacturing, one of the fastest-growing technologies currently redefining the industry.
“I knew I needed to come back to school, but I also knew I had to study something that I was passionate about and something that genuinely interested me,” Vasquez said. “When I got here, I felt more prepared for college than I ever did when I was younger. The AMT program gave me the confidence to enter this new career landscape that is currently being redefined by AI.”
Vasquez was recently one of six students selected to present final projects from the program’s AI in Manufacturing course to regional industry leaders and manufacturing partners.
His project focused on demand forecasting and inventory efficiency using AI-driven data analysis. The project analyzed purchasing trends and historical sales data to help businesses predict what products they should keep in stock during specific times of the year.
Using an interactive app, Vasquez and his classmates demonstrated how AI could help companies better manage inventory by identifying seasonal purchasing patterns and reducing excess stock.
“It was all about learning those patterns from historical data,” said AMT Department Chair Erika Guerra regarding Vasquez’s presentation to industry leaders. “The better the prediction, the more efficient the company becomes with its inventory and space allocation.”
Guerra said manufacturers throughout the region are already implementing similar AI technologies to reduce downtime, improve efficiency and make smarter business decisions.
Now, STC students like Vasquez are at the forefront of that movement, Guerra said.
Industry leaders attending the student presentations provided direct feedback to students, exposing them to real-world manufacturing challenges and workforce needs.
“For us, it was exciting because these companies were telling students exactly what they need right now,” Guerra said. “The students were able to see how relevant these skills are in today’s industry.”
Vasquez said the experience was eye-opening.
“You are sitting there with people who own these companies, and they are talking directly to you about what they need,” he said. “It was a look behind the curtain so I could get a head start on a career.”
Before enrolling at STC, Vasquez said he had little experience with advanced computing, but he quickly discovered that AI in manufacturing involved far more than simple internet searches.
“It was about using raw data to come up with analysis and make decisions,” he said. “That was completely new to me.”
Now, a recent graduate and armed with knowledge into industry, Vasquez said he plans to continue his education at STC by pursuing a degree in Engineering, a goal he once believed was out of reach.
“I would tell anyone thinking about coming back to school to just take that first step,” he said. “Call STC or even visit the campus because you never know where it can lead you.”
Information source: STC
