MI to Launch New AI Skills Training for Current and Future Manufacturing Workers
Washington, D.C. – The Manufacturing Institute—the workforce development and education affiliate of the National Association of Manufacturers—announced it will launch the first new educational courses of its AI Skills for Manufacturing Training Suite as a part of its AI Skills Initiative.
AI Fundamentals for Manufacturing will impart a baseline understanding of AI, its applications across manufacturing and its benefits toward improving safety, production quality and efficiency. AI Fundamentals will be available for free online to students, current manufacturing workers and anyone else interested in acquiring the next-generation skills manufacturers are looking for as they embed AI into their operations.
The MI is partnering with employers, manufacturing associations and post-secondary education providers to offer the materials as part of job training and upskilling, as well as integrating the course into community college course offerings.
AI Fundamentals+ for Manufacturing will be available later this year and will offer learners deeper knowledge on how AI systems operate in manufacturing and identify practical applications for AI to improve processes, solve problems and support day-to-day operations.
Earlier this year, the MI announced the creation of the AI Skills Initiative with the support of $10 million from Google.org, with the goal of training 40,000 current and future manufacturing workers to use AI on the shop floor. It comes as AI-powered technology gains widespread adoption by advanced manufacturers. According to research from the Manufacturing Leadership Council, the digital transformation division of the National Association of Manufacturers, while more than half of manufacturers already deploy AI in their operations, 82% report that their employees lack the skills to leverage these tools effectively, and fewer than 20% of manufacturers currently offer formal AI training.
“Skilling the manufacturing workforce is core to the MI’s mission, and we are focused on expanding access to the skills manufacturers need most,” said MI President Carolyn Lee. “The launch of our AI Skills for Manufacturing Training Suite is the logical continuation of our skills-based workforce solutions. As AI becomes increasingly integrated into manufacturing, workers need opportunities to build the skills and confidence to use these tools effectively. This training gives current and future manufacturing workers a practical foundation in AI and adds an important new dimension to the skills development opportunities the MI provides.”
In the coming weeks, the MI will be going on the road to continue to roll out the new course in partnership with manufacturers and community colleges:
- Sept. 28 at Alabama Community College System
- Oct. 13 at Smurfit Westrock in Winston-Salem, North Carolina
- Oct. 22 at Texas State Technical College
-The MI-
The Manufacturing Institute works to build and strengthen the manufacturing workforce for individual opportunity, community prosperity and a competitive manufacturing industry for the future. This is done through implementing groundbreaking initiatives, convening industry leaders, conducting innovative research and promoting public policy that supports the sector as it meets the opportunity of modern manufacturing. As the 501(c)3 nonprofit workforce development and education affiliate of the National Association of Manufacturers, the MI is a trusted adviser to manufacturers, equipping them with solutions to address the toughest workforce issues. For more information on the MI, please visit www.themanufacturinginstitute.org.
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