AI Skills Training
Empowering the people who will build the next era of American manufacturing
Manufacturers know better than anyone how quickly technology is changing. Artificial intelligence is rapidly becoming part of modern manufacturing — from tools that optimize production and quality in real time, to machine learning that improves predictive maintenance.
But while AI’s impact is unfolding, waiting isn’t an option. The priority right now is preparing manufacturing’s frontline workforce with the skills needed to succeed in an AI-driven future.
Without these skills, manufacturers risk falling behind, while those who embrace AI will strengthen overall competitiveness. But manufacturers don’t have to figure it out alone. The Manufacturing Institute is stepping forward to ensure workforce preparation keeps pace.
What We’re Doing
Through the AI Skills Initiative — developed with support from Google.org — the Manufacturing Institute is preparing current and future manufacturing workers for an AI-enabled future. The initiative aims to equip more than 40,000 workers and students with practical, manufacturing-focused AI skills — at no cost to learners or employers.
At the center of that work is the AI Skills for Manufacturing Training Suite: free, manufacturing-focused AI training that builds learners’ understanding from foundational concepts to practical applications on the shop floor. Learners earn a digital credential for completing AI Fundamentals for Manufacturing and AI Fundamentals+ for Manufacturing.
AI Fundamentals for Manufacturing
Two foundational courses — Introduction to AI for Manufacturing and Course 1: Working with AI — introduce learners to what AI is, how it is used across manufacturing and the value it brings to safety, quality and productivity. No prior AI experience required.
AI Fundamentals+ for Manufacturing
Four additional courses (Courses 2–5) build a deeper understanding of how AI systems operate in manufacturing — and explore practical ways to use AI to improve processes, solve problems and support day-to-day work.
- Available at no cost
- Self-paced and web-based
- Works on desktop, tablet and mobile
- Delivered via the MI’s LMS — or integrated into yours
Who We Serve
The training suite is built for the people who power manufacturing — and for the organizations that prepare them. Choose your starting point:
For Manufacturers
Give frontline production workers a practical, no-cost foundation in AI — and build a more AI-ready workforce.
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For Education Providers
Build AI literacy alongside the technical skills your students are already developing for manufacturing careers.
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For Associations
Bring manufacturing-focused AI training to your member companies and strengthen your region’s workforce.
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Addressing The Gaps
According to the Manufacturing Leadership Council, more than 50% of manufacturers already use AI in their operations, but key gaps show that this technology is not being used to its full potential. The Manufacturing Institute’s AI training directly closes these gaps and accelerates meaningful adoption across the industry:
82%
The Skills Gap
of companies report their employees lack the skills to leverage AI effectively. The MI is equipping current and future workers with practical, role-specific AI capabilities through the AI Skills for Manufacturing Training Suite—building the foundational skills needed to apply AI on the shop floor. Just 19% of manufacturers currently offer any AI-related training, according to research by the MI and PwC.
13%
The Leadership Gap
of frontline supervisors use AI in any capacity. Through the training suite’s manufacturing-focused learning journeys, the MI is preparing frontline leaders to confidently implement and scale AI in day-to-day operations. Frontline leaders should be role models in AI adoption, especially as, according to MI and PwC research, 72% report that employees who are comfortable with existing systems are resistant to AI adoption.
Learning Objectives
These learning objectives outline the knowledge learners can build as they progress from understanding how AI is used in manufacturing to applying AI concepts in production environments.
Introduction to AI for Manufacturing: Understand AI on the Shop Floor
Part of AI Fundamentals for Manufacturing.
AI has been a part of manufacturing for decades and is playing a larger part of modern plant floor operations. You may see it in machines, dashboards, inspection systems, cameras or alerts that help spot problems earlier and find fixes faster. This simple, plain-language intro course shows learners what these tools are and how they can help on the job.
Learning objectives:
- What AI can do in a manufacturing setting.
- Where AI may show up on the shop floor.
- How to use AI tools safely at work.
- Why your experience and judgment matters even more.
Course 1: Working with AI
Part of AI Fundamentals for Manufacturing.
AI is increasingly a tool used throughout manufacturing. In this course, learners explore how AI supports safety, quality and productivity, how team members and AI work together, and how to use AI-enabled tools responsibly in a manufacturing environment.
Learning objectives:
- Explain the difference between traditional automation and AI-enabled systems.
- Describe how team members and AI systems work together in manufacturing operations.
- Recognize how AI can support safety, quality and productivity.
- Use manufacturing knowledge and experience to evaluate AI recommendations and outputs.
- Follow company procedures and protect sensitive information when using AI tools.
Course 2: How AI Makes Decisions
Part of AI Fundamentals+ for Manufacturing.
Learn how AI systems process information, identify patterns and support manufacturing operations. This course explores how AI generates insights and how team members use operational knowledge and real-world conditions to evaluate AI outputs.
Learning objectives:
- Explain how the PDCA (Plan-Do-Check-Act) cycle can be used to evaluate and improve AI-enabled processes.
- Describe the difference between fixed-rule automation and AI systems that use information and patterns to support decisions and actions.
- Apply a structured approach to compare AI outputs with actual equipment and process conditions.
- Explain how context, production goals and operating requirements influence AI performance.
- Identify situations where AI outputs should be verified against equipment conditions, process knowledge and safety requirements.
Course 3: The Sensory Factory
Part of AI Fundamentals+ for Manufacturing.
Explore how AI-enabled systems use information from machines, sensors and cameras to understand what is happening throughout a manufacturing operation.
Learning objectives:
- Explain how AI systems collect and process information from sensors, cameras and manufacturing equipment.
- Describe how AI identifies patterns in operational data to support equipment monitoring, quality control and process improvement.
- Explain how computer vision systems inspect products and identify defects that may be difficult to detect consistently through manual inspection alone.
- Describe how multiple sources of information can be combined to improve understanding of manufacturing operations and process conditions.
- Evaluate how sensing technologies contribute to predictive maintenance, quality assurance, safety monitoring and production optimization.
Course 4: Exploring Agentic AI
Part of AI Fundamentals+ for Manufacturing.
Learn how AI systems can perform more complex tasks, make decisions across multiple steps and support manufacturing processes.
Learning objectives:
- Explain the difference between AI tools that assist team members and AI systems that can perform multi-step tasks independently with supervision.
- Describe how natural language can be used to interact with manufacturing systems and generate technical outputs.
- Use AI-supported simulations to evaluate production scenarios and explore possible outcomes.
- Explain how AI-enabled systems use information, adapt to changing conditions and support manufacturing operations.
- Identify the importance of maintaining safety, quality and operating requirements in autonomous processes.
Course 5: The Future-Ready Team Member
Part of AI Fundamentals+ for Manufacturing.
Bring together everything learned throughout the training suite and explore how team members can continue to succeed as AI becomes more integrated into manufacturing operations.
Learning objectives:
- Explain how different AI technologies work together to support manufacturing operations.
- Describe the continuing importance of manufacturing knowledge, hands-on experience and technical skills in an AI-enabled environment.
- Assess tasks for their potential to be supported or augmented by AI-enabled systems.
- Recognize how AI can be applied across manufacturing environments with different levels of technology adoption.
- Identify opportunities to work effectively with AI tools while supporting safety, quality and productivity goals.
Stay Updated
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Why the Manufacturing Institute
As the workforce development and education affiliate of the National Association of Manufacturers, the MI is uniquely prepared to tackle manufacturers’ AI readiness head-on. The MI has a proven track record of changing narratives and closing skills gaps in critical areas, from training essential high skilled workers to elevating leaders in manufacturing to connecting employers with military talent. No organization is better positioned to research real-world use cases, contextualize learning for the shop floor, and deliver it at scale.
This work is possible thanks to Google.org, whose funding and partnership supports the MI’s work to develop this initiative.
