The AMTEC company and college core partners are providing a variety of activities through the National Science Foundation's Advanced Technical Education two year project grant. AMTEC partners are eligible to participate using the NSF grant funds for tuition/registration fees, lodging, and meals. However, any college or company is encouraged to participate by paying their own expenses.
The next major AMTEC event will be from August 5-7, 2008. It is a workshop with invited subject matter experts from the automotive company partners to develop a consensus on the common core competencies for skilled maintenance and tool & die technician work in the OEMs and tier suppliers. The consensus work will be based upon the industry and college DELPHI electronic survey conducted in February and March of 2008. The survey rated the work duties and tasks by importance, frequency of performing, and the level of the person doing the work. After the consensus for the common core is developed, the AMTEC college partners will develop a gap analysis to determine the best existing training and education programs for developing the required competencies, and where curriculum development work is required. The college participants will begin this work at the August workshop, and it will continue in four regional working sessions in early fall.
Past Events
April 21-23, 2008: "Just-In-Time Education and Training"
Hosted jointly by General Motors and Lansing Community College, with strong local support from the local manufacturing community, the academy was built upon the theme: "The automotive industry's global competitiveness drives training needs, requiring flexible and appropriate responses by community and technical colleges." There were 53 registered participants, with 29 coming from automotive manufacturing companies, 20 from community and technical colleges, and 4 from other governmental and private organizations. Having over 50% of the representatives coming from the automotive industry is a first for an AMTEC event.
Two significant and well-known auto industry leaders addressed the group. Ron Harbour of the Oliver Wyman Group and originator of the Harbour Report presented the opening keynote address with a comprehensive overview of the condition of the automotive companies, how they have changed, and the challenges yet to be faced. Kristin Dziczek of the Center for Automotive Research presented the major CAR study she led recently, Beyond the Big Leave. It is an analysis of the current and projected automotive employment in Michigan and the U.S. based upon data from the traditional Detroit Three companies, Toyota and Honda in North America.
Additionally, automotive companies in the Lansing area presented how they are coping with the shortage of skilled workers while attempting to implement a more competitive technological working environment, and gave examples of how they have partnered with colleges to do the required training. Examples from the Lansing Community College and the Bluegrass Community and Technical College in Kentucky were presented for how to be responsive and increase access to training through flexible delivery models.
CAR's study, Beyond the Big Leave (PDF)
Impact of Productivity (PowerPoint)
Skills Validation Using DELPHI Method (PowerPoint)
Modularized On-line Curriculum (PowerPoint)
March 4-6, 2008 : Creating a Culture for Sustaining Lean Implementation
Many companies have implemented lean manufacturing training programs based upon the IE techniques and tools as adapted by and made famous by Toyota. Unfortunately, sometimes the results are only short lived and ultimately disappointing. This academy was led by a former Toyota Motor Manufacturing Kentucky production and HR management member with an emphasis on the human systems necessary to support the lean manufacturing tools. The academy was attended by 30 representatives of colleges and companies, including GM, Ford, Toyota, and automotive suppliers. They participated in an interactive, hands-on simulation that focused on team work, problem solving, and the role of the people.
November 14-16, 2007 AMTEC academy on Demystifying Mechatronics
Academy Summary
Owens Community College in Toledo, OH, with Rieter Automotive and the National Coalition of Advanced Technology Centers (NCATC) hosted an AMTEC academy on "Demystifying Mechatronics: What is It?" from November 14-16, 2007 with 47 colleges and companies representatives in attendance. The participants heard presentations that ranged from overviews of what is going on nationally and regionally with training programs variously titled "Mechatronics," Multi-skilled Maintenance," "Integrated Systems Technology," and others, to specific programs in partnership with Toyota, Siemens, and Goodyear and community and technical colleges supporting them. Rieter Automotive conducted a plant tour to see how they are remaking their industrial maintenance workforce and to talk with high school students who are a part of a pilot program to develop the future workforce for maintaining automated integrated systems technology.Presentation Materials
October 2007 AMTEC Academy on Preventativeand Predictive Maintenance Systems
Ford's Kentucky Truck Plant and the Jefferson Community and Technical College hosted in Louisville, KY, from October 23-25, 2007 an AMTEC academy on preventative and predictive maintenance systems in use by major automotive manufacturers. In addition to Ford, GM, and Toyota presented systems they have implemented and the cost avoidance resulting from their work. Breakout sessions were conducted for educators to learn about the training requirements for these systems, and for engineers and floor technicians to learn about the technical specifications.
Presentation Materials
June 2007, Alamo Community College District, San Antonio, TX
This academy was a repeat of the September 2006 academy but with more industry involvement and more opportunity for the college and company representatives to work together to begin problem solving their recruiting and retention issues. Jointly hosted by the Alamo Community College District, Toyota Motor Manufacturing Texas, and Lockheed Martin, the participants got first hand looks at the problems
faced by companies and learned of their attempts to attract the appropriately
trained high school and community and technical college students to manufacturing
work. NAM's Phyllis Eisen presented their Dream It Do It program, and the
Jackson (MI) Area Manufacturers Association presented their innovative approach
to working with high schools and colleges.
Summary of the group discussions, issues, and ideas to develop.
February 2007, Toyota's North American Production Support Center and Bluegrass Community and Technical College, Georgetown, KY
This academy focused college partners from all eight AMTEC states, plus colleges from California, Arkansas, and Mississippi, and automotive manufacturers, including GM, Ford, BMW, Toyota, and several suppliers, on models for creating mutually beneficial partnerships to train the future automotive workforce. The participants not only learned about Toyota and Bluegrass CTC's historical partnership based upon Toyota's problem solving methods, but also learned about Lansing Community College's long term partnership with GM and area suppliers. The participants worked in small groups on specific improvement plans to make their local partnership with colleges and companies stronger when they returned home.
Presentation MaterialsSeptember 2006, Alamo Community College District, San Antonio, TX
One of the two major issues facing manufacturing companies is the ability to recruit and retain a properly trained workforce to support their complex manufacturing systems. Alamo Community College personnel shared their innovative and successful practices to reach out to high school students and targeted populations that have traditionally been underrepresented in manufacturing's higher paying skilled trades jobs. Alamo shared their high school academies model in manufacturing and aerospace, their partnership with the San Antonio Toyota plant, and their one-stop centers for enrolling/assessing/beginning instruction located in neighborhoods with populations with lots of barriers to college participation.
July 2006, Macomb Community College, Warren, MI
Blended on-line with hands-on labs learning for technical skills for manufacturing plant floor process and facility equipment technicians. It also included a demonstration of a web-based 'expert systems' software for quick access to repair manuals, history of breakdowns/repairs, and spare parts inventory.