LIT Joins SACA to Provide Students with Industry 4.0 Certifications

7/30/2025

Lamar Institute of Technology is pleased to announce that it has become a member of the Smart Automation Certification Alliance (SACA) in order to align education and training to meet the realities of Industry 4.0. Students completing the college’s career and technical education (CTE) programs will soon earn SACA Industry 4.0 certifications, giving them a competitive advantage in today’s job market.

“By joining SACA, we can embed micro-credentials into many of our classes,” said Dr. Valerie Worry, Technology Department Chair. “Micro-credentials empower college students to stack skills like stepping stones—each one a clear signal to future employers that they’re not just educated, they’re ready. In addition to receiving their degree or certificate, they now possess micro-credentials for a specific job skill.”

Today’s students face a far different industrial landscape than existed a decade ago. While automation technologies have been commonplace for many years, the Internet has brought about a convergence of new “connected” technologies that is revolutionizing industries worldwide.

Known as the Fourth Industrial Revolution or Industry 4.0, this latest disruption of the industrial world is resulting in reduced downtime and increased quality, productivity, and overall efficiency in industries of all kinds thanks to advanced technologies that make up what is known as the Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT).

IIoT technologies include such things as advanced robotics, machine learning, artificial intelligence, autonomous vehicles and machines, cloud-based data analysis, and cybersecurity. As companies increase their use of networks and Internet technologies, they are connecting more devices, from smart sensors to smartphones.

SACA’s Industry 4.0 certifications certify “connected systems” skills that address the integration of the many types of advanced manufacturing technologies with Industry 4.0 technology.

Armed with SACA certifications, LIT students will be better prepared to be successful in an Industry 4.0 world. Students will be able to earn SACA certifications at the Associate, Specialist and Professional level in areas such as basic and advanced operations; robot systems; IIoT, networking, and data analytics; automation systems; production systems; and information technology (IT) operations.

SACA certifications use standards developed with input from industry leaders to assure the certification endorses the knowledge and skills important to industry. Students will have the option of pursuing Silver (successfully pass a written knowledge exam) or Gold (successfully pass a written knowledge exam and successfully complete a hands-on performance assessment on approved equipment) certifications depending upon their coursework and hands-on skill development.