Alabama community colleges will begin offering free artificial intelligence training for manufacturing workers and students following a statewide agreement signed Monday at Calhoun Community College.
The Manufacturing Institute and the Alabama Community College System formalized the partnership at Calhoun’s Gene Haas Workforce Training Center. Alabama is among the first states to adopt the institute’s AI Skills for Manufacturing Training Suite, which includes new courses on using AI in manufacturing operations.
The training is designed for people already working in manufacturing as well as students preparing to enter the industry. The statewide rollout begins immediately.
Manufacturing Institute President Carolyn Lee said the program builds on Alabama’s existing approach to workforce training, including its chapters of the Federation for Advanced Manufacturing Education, or FAME.
“At the Manufacturing Institute, we build and strengthen the manufacturing workforce of today and tomorrow by developing the skills manufacturers need, working with industry and educators to deliver world-best training that makes workers ready for the shop floor on Day 1,” Lee said. “Alabama has long been a trailblazer in employer-led workforce training through its standout FAME chapters. By formalizing this new statewide AI skills partnership with the Alabama Community College System, we are rapidly expanding access to critical skills so every frontline manufacturing worker has the tools to thrive as manufacturers continue to adopt AI into their operations.”
Keith Phillips, deputy chancellor of workforce and economic development for the Alabama Community College System and the Alabama Training Network, said the courses will help colleges keep pace with changes in the industry.
“Our community colleges exist to connect Alabamians with high-wage, high-skill careers that keep our state’s economy moving forward,” Phillips said. “Adopting the MI’s AI Skills for Manufacturing Training Suite ensures our curriculum moves at the speed of modern industry. Equipping our students with hands-on AI fluency gives our local employers the competitive workforce they need to lead.”
After the signing, attendees toured Calhoun’s Rocket City FAME facility, where students took part in a demonstration of the college’s manufacturing training. The chapter was the first in the country to complete FAME USA’s Quality Assurance accreditation process.
Calhoun Vice President of Academic Affairs Dr. Aletta Williamson said the visit gave attendees a look at how industry-focused training works in practice.
“Hosting today’s signing and showcasing our Rocket City FAME students in action highlights the real impact of industry-aligned education,” Williamson said. “The Manufacturing Institute’s meticulous work in developing cutting-edge workforce programs has opened incredible doors for technical education. Seeing our students engage with these new AI tools, master intelligent systems and gain the confidence to lead on the factory floor is truly inspiring.”
The event brought together community college leaders, workforce and economic development representatives, students and manufacturers. Among those attending was Jay Humphreys, general manager of manufacturing at Toyota Motor Manufacturing Alabama Inc.
The initiative began earlier this year with a $10 million grant from Google.org. The Manufacturing Institute aims to train 40,000 current and future manufacturing workers to use AI on the shop floor.
Despite growing use of the technology, manufacturers say workers are struggling to keep up. Research from the Manufacturing Leadership Council, the digital transformation division of the National Association of Manufacturers, found that 82% of manufacturers report their employees lack the skills to use AI tools effectively. More than half of manufacturers already use AI, but fewer than 20% offer formal training.
Manufacturing accounts for nearly 13% of Alabama’s workforce, the fifth-highest share among the 50 states.
Monday’s signing was the first stop on the Manufacturing Institute’s multistate road show, “Training for the Future: Celebrating New AI Skills Partnerships and FAME Successes.” The next event is scheduled for Oct. 13 at Smurfit Westrock, a paper materials manufacturer in Winston-Salem, North Carolina.
Zachary Austin is a writer for 256 Today. You can contact him at [email protected].
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