Close
Search
Sign In
CartMy AccountLog Out
The Wood Fabrication & Upholstery program combines traditional craftsmanship with modern manufacturing methods to produce high-quality furniture and custom wood products. Participants fabricate items such as tables, desks, cabinetry, and architectural components, while the Upholstery operation produces durable seating for offices, educational facilities, and custom projects, including bus seating.

Working in a production environment that mirrors private-sector manufacturing, participants learn to meet detailed specifications, maintain consistent quality, and deliver finished products built for long-term use. This program emphasizes precision, durability, and attention to detail – skills that translate directly to careers in woodworking, furniture manufacturing, upholstery, and construction-related trades.

Skills & Experience Gained

Participants develop hands-on skills across both wood manufacturing and upholstery disciplines, preparing them for a wide range of skilled trade and production roles.

Key skills include:
  • Wood fabrication and furniture construction
  • Cabinetry and casework production
  • Upholstery pattern creation and reverse engineering
  • Sewing, surging, top-stitching, and furniture covering
  • Assembly, finishing, and surface preparation
  • Blueprint reading and specification interpretation
  • Quality control and workplace safety


Equipment & Technology

Participants gain experience operating industrial woodworking and upholstery equipment commonly found in professional shops, including:
  • Standard and CNC saws and routers
  • Planers and edgebanders
  • Tenoning and doweling machines
  • Drill presses and boring machines
  • Hand and power sanding equipment
  • Precision measuring tools and calipers
  • HVLP spray guns
  • Pneumatic nailers and staplers
  • Drills, drivers, and oscillating multi-tools
  • Veneer presses and laminate trimmers


Software & Systems

Participants are introduced to design, production, and support software used in modern manufacturing environments, including:
  • Machine-specific proprietary software
  • Cabinet Vision and ActionPress Vision
  • Autodesk Inventor, Vault Pro, AutoCAD, and DWG TrueView
  • AlphaCam and HyperCam
  • 3ds Max and Blender
  • Adobe Acrobat Pro, Illustrator, InDesign, Bridge, and Photoshop
  • Microsoft Visual Studio, VS Code, Word, and Excel

Certifications & Credentials

Participants may earn industry-aligned credentials, including:
  • OCE Industrial Technology – Wood Manufacturing
  • OCE Industrial Technology – Upholstery
  • NCCER Core
  • NCCER General Carpentry and Cabinetry
  • NCCER Project Management

Participant Perspective

“My OCE job has helped me by keeping me familiar with the trade that I know and giving me even more experience with the trade of carpentry. I believe this will help me obtain employment upon my release."

- John, Furniture Factory Carpenter, OSP

“The skills I've learned in the Upholstery program give me confidence that I can get a job doing this after I release. I can create and reverse engineer patterns, assemble full furniture coverings, top-stitch, surge, and even assemble the furniture before I cover it. I started by learning to sew a straight line, and now I feel confident that I can upholster professionally."

- Jonny, Upholstery Shop, TRCI