A new chapter of the Federation for Advanced Manufacturing Education (FAME) is launching in Michigan with a location at Washtenaw Community College in Ann Arbor.
The training program, which equips students with the skills required for the rapidly evolving manufacturing industry, provides a debt-free path to an associate degree.
“There is an enormous demand for skilled technicians in advanced manufacturing,” says Meg Wallace, senior engineer at Toyota, which operates the Toyota Technical Center and Toyota Research Institute, both in Ann Arbor. “By investing in our future workforce, we are making a commitment to future innovation.”
Known as the MI FAME Mitten Chapter, the program pairs students with a sponsoring company to complete a two-year apprenticeship program. Toyota Motor North America is the chapter’s founding company and Washtenaw Community College (WCC) will serve as the educational partner.
Ann Arbor SPARK, Michigan Works! Southeast, and the Workforce Intelligence Network for Southeast Michigan (WIN) also are supporting the initiative.
In addition to Toyota, other founding employers include Lomar Machine & Tool and Orbitform. Companies seeking to join the Michigan FAME chapter can connect with the chapter via the FAME website.
“As the world becomes more automated and machine-reliant, manufacturing leaders will need to have a base skill set and understanding of complex machines to lead effectively,” says Jake Sponsler, president of Orbitform. “FAME emphasizes leadership and professional behaviors, as well as lean principles, to build the strongest talent.”
FAME originally was created by Toyota in 2009 and transitioned to The Manufacturing Institute to help it scale. Today, FAME has 34 chapters with more than 400 company partners across 12 states. There have been more than 1,500 graduates since 2012, with an 85 percent employment placement.
“We’re excited to work with MI FAME to launch this work-learn program which combines classroom training in mechatronics — robotics and automated systems — with on-site, real work experience at a local manufacturing company,” says Kyrsten Rue, experiential learning and employer relations manager for Washtenaw Community College.
Funding to support the chapter is provided by the Southeast Michigan Community Alliance Workforce Intelligence Network (SEMCA WIN) as part of a $5.8 million Apprenticeship Building America (ABA) grant awarded by the U.S. Department of Employment and Training Administration. Ann Arbor SPARK will help administer the program and will also help recruit both employers and students.
“The Michigan Alliance for Greater Mobility Advancement (MAGMA) employer-led collaborative, convened by SEMCA WIN, has been working to establish a FAME chapter in Michigan for several years,” says Michele Economou Ureste, WIN executive director.
“The recent SEMCA WIN ABA grant will provide funding support for the FAME Mitten Chapter equipment, salary, and training needs while enabling training cohorts to be filled through the collaboration of WIN community colleges in a shared prosperity region.”
Participants in the FAME program can be recent high school graduates, military members transitioning to the workforce, or individuals looking to move into a new career path. The FAME program is designed to give students hands-on experience while also providing formal educational credentials.
The program focuses on professional presence skills, lean manufacturing acumen, as well as formal technical capabilities. The first cohort of students will be recruited throughout spring 2023 and will begin the FAME program in fall 2023.
Applications to join the program can be submitted on the MI FAME Mitten Chapter website.
