Workforce News

As artificial intelligence continues to rapidly reshape the manufacturing industry, integrating AI training into advanced manufacturing education will become even more critical. That is why the Manufacturing Institute (MI), with funding from Google.org, is bringing AI skills to manufacturing communities across the nation through FAME. 

FAME—the Federation for Advanced Manufacturing Education—is the premier American model of manufacturing skills training, developing highly skilled, professional and sought-after talent to meet the unique needs and challenges of modern manufacturing. Created by Toyota in 2010 and led by the Manufacturing Institute since 2019, FAME provides manufacturers with a reliable pipeline of highly skilled, work-ready technicians who understand their culture, expectations and operations. 

As part of its AI Skills Initiative, the MI will develop an AI for Advanced Manufacturing Technicians course for delivery across all FAME chapters. This course will be designed specifically for integration into FAME’s signature Advanced Maintenance Technician (AMT) training curriculum, bringing future-ready skills to a critical section of the manufacturing workforce. 

As manufacturing becomes more automated and data-driven, the core AMT skillset is shifting. AI-powered tools are changing how technicians identify issues, reduce downtime and keep operations running efficiently. With more than 50% of manufacturers currently using AI (Manufacturing Leadership Council), AMTs need AI skills to keep pace with modern equipment and systems. At the same time, 82% of manufacturing employees lack the skills to use AI effectively, and only 19% of manufacturers offer any AI training according to research by the MI and PwC. For FAME, building these skills is an important part of preparing AMTs for the evolving nature of the manufacturing shopfloor. 

FAME’s model and track record of success makes it uniquely prepared to quickly bring AI skills to life on the shop floor: 

• FAME’s combination of hands-on technical education and real-world application, allowing students to immediately apply their AI skills to the shop floor. 

• FAME’s reaches 17 states through over 40 chapters—and growing—making it an effective platform to quickly build AI-skilled talent pipelines. 

Through the AI Skills Initiative and made possible with funding from Google.org, the MI will launch new FAME chapters in at least 15 new regions, in addition to ongoing efforts to support sites across the country. This will further enable FAME to bring advanced manufacturing AI skills across the nation, helping more manufacturers prepare to succeed in an AI-driven future. 

Want to get connected to FAME’s talent pipelines? Learn more about how the FAME model operates and how manufacturers can get involved.