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Streamlining the Production Process with Phillips Opto

Grand Opening October 28, 2026 • Portsmouth, VA
Industrial Maintenance & Mechatronics Training

Defy
Downtime

Accelerated. Hands-On. Cross-Functional.

Explore Programs

Phillips Workforce

Phillips Workforce is bringing a new approach to industrial workforce development in Hampton Roads.

Launching this fall, our mechatronics and industrial maintenance training programs will help organizations upskill existing employees, prepare new talent, and build a stronger workforce for the future.

Through accelerated, employer-aligned industrial maintenance and mechatronics training, we develop technicians with expertise across electrical, mechanical, PLC, fluid power, and automation systems — helping organizations strengthen in-house technical capabilities, reduce downtime, and build a more resilient workforce.

Phillips Workforce regional partners: Hampton Roads Workforce Council, Hampton Roads Alliance, Virginia Ship Repair Association, Portsmouth VA Economic Development, and VEDP

Built for Industry Readiness

Cross-Functional. Accelerated. Production-Ready Training.

Cross-Functional Training

Develop technicians with capabilities spanning electrical, mechanical, automation, PLC, fluid power, and more.

In Weeks, Not Years

Develop accelerated workforce capability through immersive, hands-on learning experiences.

ATDM Proven Model

Built on workforce development methods that have helped prepare 1,000+ graduates for careers. Aligned with Industry 4.0.

Production-Grade

More than 80% of hands-on instruction is delivered on real industrial equipment, ensuring skills translate directly to the production floor.

Industry-Driven Curriculum

Developed by experienced industry professionals and informed by U.S. Navy workforce requirements to align with real operational demands.

Brand-Agnostic Approach

Build transferable skills that apply across OEMs, technologies, facilities, and production environments.

Modular Pathways

Flexible training pathways designed to align with your workforce strategy, operational priorities, and implementation timeline.

Rooted in Hampton Roads

Built in one of America's most critical maritime, defense, and industrial regions.

Apprenticeship-Eligible

Coming soon — pathways designed to support registered apprenticeship eligibility.

Curriculum

18 accelerated, hands-on, cross-disciplinary courses available

Flexible by design, our modular week-long courses allow employers to build customized training pathways that support technician development.

Pathways

Customize a multi-week training pathway or follow one of our pre-designed Phillips Workforce pathways below.

Pathway

OnRAMP

Industrial Readiness & Operator Upskilling Pathway

OnRAMP is an accelerated industrial readiness pathway designed for operators, entry-level maintenance personnel, and workforce transition candidates seeking foundational industrial systems knowledge and troubleshooting awareness. The program focuses on developing industrial familiarity, systems understanding, machine awareness, troubleshooting communication, and operational confidence to help participants become more effective contributors within manufacturing and maintenance environments.

  • Tools & Equipment Fundamentals
  • Electrical Essentials
  • Mechanical Essentials
  • PLC Systems Essentials
  • Hydraulic Systems Essentials
  • Pneumatic Systems Essentials
  • Industrial Robotics Essentials

* Coming Soon: Apprenticeship Eligible

Pathway

WARP

Workforce Acceleration & Readiness Program

The Workforce Acceleration & Readiness Program (WARP) is a hands-on industrial workforce development pathway designed to take motivated candidates from minimal industrial experience to field-ready apprentice capability. The program combines foundational systems training, troubleshooting development, machine interaction, and operational realism to develop adaptable industrial learners capable of supporting maintenance and mechatronics environments.

  • Shop Math & Maintenance Fundamentals (Online Prerequisite)
  • Tools & Equipment Fundamentals
  • Electrical Essentials
  • PLC Systems Essentials
  • Mechanical Essentials
  • Hydraulic Systems Essentials
  • Pneumatic Systems Essentials
  • Industrial Robotics Essentials
  • Advanced Mechanical Systems
  • Advanced Electrical Systems
  • PLC Diagnostics & Machine Troubleshooting Using TIA Portal
  • Advanced Hydraulic Systems
  • Advanced Pneumatic Systems
  • FANUC Robot Program Analysis & Troubleshooting
  • Preventative Maintenance
  • Optional: Advanced FANUC Robot Maintenance & Diagnostics

* Coming Soon: Apprenticeship Eligible

Pathway

Tech-Cellence

Advanced Diagnostics & Troubleshooting Pathway

Tech-Cellence is an advanced industrial troubleshooting and diagnostics pathway focused on incumbent maintenance personnel and developing technicians seeking stronger troubleshooting capability, machine understanding, and operational diagnostics experience. The program emphasizes real-world troubleshooting, machine behavior analysis, and advanced systems diagnostics.

  • Advanced Mechanical Systems
  • Advanced Electrical Systems
  • Advanced Hydraulic Systems
  • Advanced Pneumatic Systems
  • PLC Diagnostics & Machine Troubleshooting Using TIA Portal
  • FANUC Robot Program Analysis & Troubleshooting
  • Preventative Maintenance
  • Optional: Advanced FANUC Robot Maintenance & Diagnostics

* Coming Soon: Apprenticeship Eligible

Wondering which pathway is right for your operation? Let's talk!

Phillips Workforce Hybrid Apprenticeship

Fast Track Your Credentialed Maintenance Talent

Your RTI Sponsor and Compliance Partner

Phillips Workforce makes registered apprenticeship easier to launch, fund, and manage. As your RTI sponsor, we handle DOL compliance, curriculum, documentation, and grant support — so your team can focus on the mentor, job role, and competencies your operation needs.

The payoff: a structured path to a credentialed, highly capable Journey Worker in as little as one year.

Three Steps to Journey Worker

1

Complete the RTI Block: Train intensively at Phillips Workforce on production-grade equipment across electrical controls, mechanical systems, fluid power, PLCs, and robotics.

2

Prove Competency on the Job: Back on your floor, each apprentice works under your mentor and demonstrates required skills through a structured OJT checklist, supported by Phillips Workforce quarterly check-ins.

3

Graduate with a DOL Credential: After RTI, OJT competencies, and your organization's requirements are met, the apprentice earns a DOL Journey Worker Certificate.

Stack Funding. Reduce Cost. Accelerate ROI.

Phillips Workforce helps employers tap funding to lower training costs and speed payback, including tuition support, apprentice incentives, reimbursements, and eligible tax credits — estimated value in the thousands per apprentice, plus employer-level incentives where eligible.

Potential funding stack: WIOA, Virginia HIRED, AMAIF, HRWC, WOTC, and Virginia Worker Training Tax Credit.

Hire for Potential. Train for Performance.

Stop waiting for fully trained technicians. Build a clear pathway from entry-level wages to a nationally recognized credential and recruit for aptitude, reliability, and drive — with training built specifically for industrial maintenance, automation, and mechatronics. Graduates can earn up to 39 transferable credits toward a degree at Pennsylvania College of Technology, and Phillips Workforce manages RAPIDS data, wage progression tracking, and Virginia Works audit support for minimal administrative lift.

Phillips Workforce apprentice training hands-on on production-grade industrial equipment

Our Training Facility

820 Port Centre Parkway — Portsmouth, Virginia

At the Gateway to America's Maritime Industrial Base

Phillips Workforce is located directly adjacent to Norfolk Naval Shipyard — one of America's most critical maritime and defense hubs — in the heart of the Hampton Roads industrial corridor.

The location puts accelerated technician training within minutes of the shipyards, defense contractors, and advanced manufacturers who need that capability most.

  • ▸Directly adjacent to Norfolk Naval Shipyard
  • ▸Purpose-built training rooms and instruction spaces
  • ▸Dedicated robotics training lab
  • ▸Production-grade equipment throughout the facility

“Hampton Roads has long served as a maritime center of gravity, and the workforce executing the mission there stands as national security infrastructure.”

— Whitney Jones, former Deputy Program Manager for the MIB

Leaning forward to meet that call to action, Phillips has worked alongside Norfolk Naval Shipyard to demonstrate the impact of accelerated, highly trained, and cross-disciplinary maintenance technicians as a force multiplier for the defense industrial base. Phillips Workforce is positioned to scale that proof point into a national program, building off the great work within the Hampton Roads ecosystem.

Aerial view showing the Phillips Workforce facility at 820 Port Centre Parkway, directly adjacent to Norfolk Naval Shipyard

Inside the Facility

Dedicated training rooms, a robotics training lab, and production-grade equipment areas — purpose-built for hands-on industrial instruction.

Phillips Workforce facility floorplan showing training rooms 120 through 129, robotics training lab, offices, storage, and break areas
Phillips Education

Built on a Proven Foundation:
Phillips Education

Phillips Workforce builds on the proven training model established by Phillips Education, a nationally recognized provider of hands-on Haas CNC training. Since 2018, Phillips Education has delivered instructor-led training focused on the real-world skills technicians need to maintain, troubleshoot, and optimize industrial equipment, conducted on production-grade equipment with an emphasis on hands-on, practical application.

The division has earned a reputation for delivering measurable outcomes, including consistent reports of stronger maintenance execution, greater confidence, improved equipment reliability, and reduced downtime. Phillips Workforce extends this proven foundation beyond CNC specialization into comprehensive industrial maintenance and mechatronics workforce development.

Trusted By
→ Explore Phillips Education
Phillips

A Global Powerhouse Grounded
in American Manufacturing

Founded in 1961 as a family-owned business, Phillips Corporation has grown into a global manufacturing solutions leader. For over 65 years, leaders in government, industry, and education have trusted Phillips to solve their most complex manufacturing challenges. We don't just sell machines — we operationalize and train for advanced manufacturing technology.

65
Years in Business
20K+
Satisfied Customers
450
Technical Centers
920+
Dedicated Partners

The Phillips Ecosystem

Unmatched Scale. Unified Capability.

Phillips Commercial

The world's largest distributor of Haas Automation CNC machines for over 30 years, delivering leaps in productivity for manufacturers.

Phillips Federal

Six decades exclusively focused on the mission-critical needs of the U.S. Government — from Norfolk Naval Shipyard to expeditionary manufacturing for the Marine Corps.

Phillips AMS

Transforming manufacturing with hybrid additive solutions, combining Haas CNC machining with Fronius, Laserline, and Meltio DED technologies.

Phillips Education

The preferred training provider for Haas, developing skilled operators, programmers, and maintenance technicians nationwide.

Phillips Workforce

Building cross-disciplinary technicians through accelerated, hands-on training in electrical, mechanical, PLC, fluid power, and automation systems.

Let's Build Technician
Capability Together

Our team works directly with employers to understand current capability gaps, workforce timelines, and operational priorities — then designs training solutions that deliver measurable impact. Check back soon for grand opening event details, or get started today.

Prefer a conversation? Schedule a 1:1 consult

820 Port Centre Parkway, Portsmouth, VA  •  workforcephillips@phillipscorp.com  •  858-342-2915
Terms and Conditions
PHILLIPS WORKFORCE — LAUNCHING FALL 2026

Defy Downtime

Built for production. Trained for readiness.
Explore Programs

WHAT'S YOUR MISSION?

Ours is readiness.

Today's operations are more automated, more complex, and more demanding than ever - yet skilled, job-ready technicians are harder to find.

Phillips Workforce exists to close that gap.

We build cross-disciplinary technicians through hands-on training across electrical, mechanical, PLCs, fluid power, automation systems, and more, so teams can solve problems in-house, reduce downtime, and keep production moving.

"Our mission is to be highly industry-focused, so we stay flexible in new training topics and how we deliver training as workforce needs evolve, using a curriculum developed in-house by industry experts with input from partners like the U.S. Navy."

— CHRIS RAY, DIRECTOR OF MECHATRONICS & APPRENTICESHIPS

THE PHILLIPS WORKFORCE ADVANTAGE

Proven Foundation

Built on Phillips Education

U.S. Navy Input

Informed by top-tier standards

ATDM Partnership

Aligned with Industry 4.0

Employer Designed

Built for operational readiness

Readiness in Weeks

Job-ready, faster

Equipment-Agnostic

Works across systems

Production-Grade Equipment

80% real equipment

Apprenticeship-Eligible

Supports career pathways

Flexible Delivery Models

Built around your timeline

Occupation Focused

Aligned to real roles

CURRICULUM

Hands-on, week-long training courses to support the full spectrum of systems

Electrical Controls

Develop the ability to understand and support industrial electrical control systems, including schematics, relays, and motor controls. Learn to diagnose faults, trace circuits, and safely restore electrical system operation.
Electrical Control Essentials
Advanced: Electrical Controls & Troubleshooting

Programmable Logic Controllers (PLCs)

Builds capability in programmable logic controllers, including system architecture, ladder logic, and device integration. Learn to support automation systems and validate system functionality.
PLC Essentials for Technicians
Advanced: PLC Programming & Integration

Mechanical Systems

Develops the ability to understand, diagnose, and repair mechanical motion systems. Learn to identify wear, alignment issues, and mechanical faults across gears, bearings, belts, and drive systems.
Mechanical Systems Essentials
Advanced: Mechanical Systems Diagnostics & Repair

Fluid Power

Builds capability in hydraulic and pneumatic systems used in industrial equipment and automation systems. Technicians learn system operation, schematic interpretation, and structured troubleshooting of pressure, flow, and actuator issues.
Fluid Power Essentials
Advanced: Hydraulic & Pneumatic Troubleshooting

Machining Essentials

Develops foundational machining capability used to support equipment repair and component fabrication. Technicians learn machine operation, part measurement, and precision machining techniques.
Manual Milling Fundamentals
Advanced: Manual Lathe Fundamentals

Robotics & Automation

Develops the ability to support, troubleshoot, and maintain industrial robotic systems. Technicians learn robot programming, system integration, mechanical servicing, and automation diagnostics.
Industrial Robotics Essentials
Advanced: Robotic Programming & Integration
Advanced: Robotic Teardown, Rebuild, & Calibration

Predictive & Preventive Maintenance

Builds capability in preventive and predictive maintenance practices used to sustain equipment performance. Technicians learn inspection techniques, condition monitoring, and structured maintenance procedures.
Preventive & Predictive Maintenance

Industrial Tools & Shop Fundamentals

Builds essential technical and safety capability required for effective industrial maintenance work. Technicians learn tool usage, measurement, blueprint reading, and safe shop practices – including OSHA-10 requirements.
Industrial Tools & Shop Fundamentals

TECHNICIAN PATHWAYS

Build complete maintenance capability through multi-week pathways from entry level to expert

ONRAMP

New hire readiness

Accelerate new-hire readiness by building essential maintenance capability, enabling safe, productive contribution in less time.

TECH-CELLENCE

Advanced diagnostics

Advance technician capability with expert-level diagnostics, troubleshooting, and automation training, reducing reliance on external support.

WARP

Technician pipeline

Build reliable technician capability with fully trained talent, ensuring workforce continuity when hiring alone cannot meet demand.

MECHXPERT

Upskill incumbent teams

Transform your current team into high performing technicians, establishing complete in-house maintenance and automation capability.
 

OPERATIONAL IMPACT EMPLOYERS CAN EXPECT

Organizations that implement structured development programs consistently achieve:

Faster technician ramp-up to independent contribution
Reduced unplanned downtime and maintenance delays
Improved equipment reliability and asset utilization
Stronger workforce retention and reduced hiring costs

44.3%Average return on workforce training investment within five years.

 

26%Organizations report measurable output gains following tech upskilling.

 

90–93%Techs who complete structured training remain longer & contribute long-term.

 
Ask Jason