Welcome!
Launched in 2005, the Academy for Manufacturing Careers is a Skilled Trades Related Technical Instruction (RTI)/ Apprenticeship customized training program designed by manufacturers to meet the needs of manufacturers across south-central Michigan. This program is sponsored by and delivered through the Jackson Area Manufacturers Association (JAMA) in partnership with South Central Michigan Works! (SCMW!) and is certified as a Registered Apprenticeship Program by the U.S. Dept. of Labor’s Office of Apprenticeship. While learning valuable advanced manufacturing job skills, trainees also earn college credits applicable to degrees from multiple area post-secondary educational institutions, including Jackson Community College and Baker College of Jackson.
The majority of our courses are held at the Jackson Area Career Center and Lenawee Tech Center. Both facilities offer state-of-the-art access to the latest manufacturing tools and equipment. From high speed Computer Numeric Controlled (CNC) mills and lathes to robotic welders and plasma laser cutters, these facilities ideally fit the needs of our area's advanced manufacturers. We also run courses at various manufacturing firms around the tri-country region. Basically, if we have a need for training, we find a local business that has the equipment we need and we hold classes there!
The Academy also hosts a number of K-12 summer youth programs, including I Can Make It Camp, Machining U, and Engineering is Elementary. When combined with programs offered by area partners (including Shop Rat, Jackson County Great Start Collaborative, Junior Achievement of the Michigan Edge, The Learning Fair, and more), our region offers an in-depth array of interconnected hands-on learning programs from birth to adulthood focused on giving participants practical application knowledge of science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) and advanced manufacturing.
Please look around our online home, check out what we do and find out how you can get involved to support the work we do. Thanks!
Glenn Biven's Excellance in Apprenticeship AwardJanuary 12, 2012
Matt Petosky receives MI Apprenticeship Steering Committee Excellence in Apprenticeship Award and JAMA Apprentice of the Year Award Jackson, MI -- On January 9, 2012, Matt Petosky, an employee of Michigan Automotive Compressor, Inc., was recognized at the Jackson Area Manufacturers Association annual meeting for earning both the Michigan Apprenticeship Steering Committee Glen Bivens Excellence in Apprenticeship Award, and the Jackson Area Manufacturers Apprentice of the Year Award. Matt won the MASC award in December, and in January earned the JAMA Apprentice of the Year award. He attended the Academy for Manufacturing Careers in Jackson and graduated from his apprenticeship program with his journeyman’s card as an Industrial Electrician. The MASC award recognizes individuals demonstrating excellence in their work in addition to a number of other key qualities. The award criteria include a commitment to good attendance and punctuality on the job and in the classroom. In addition, it recognizes outstanding craft achievements and productivity, commitment to teamwork, demonstrating safe work practices, a demonstrated spirit of competitiveness and community service. Matt is heavily involved in Kaizen activities and one point lessons to improve all departments within MACI. He has also demonstrated leadership skills within his trade on several of his projects. The second award presented to Matt is the JAMA Apprentice of the Year Award. An apprenticeship consists of two parts: classroom training and on the job work hours. A minimum of 576 classroom training hours is required, as well as 8,000 on-the-job training hours. Matt exceeded both requirements. Matt started taking classes for MACI’s Technical Skills Development (TSD) program in January 2008. MACI develops in-house apprentices to train in the Academy for Manufacturing Careers program through the TSD program. Michigan Automotive Compressor, Inc., or MACI, is the largest manufacturing employer in Jackson County with 640 associates. Established in the Parma-Sandstone business park on the west side of Jackson County in 1989, the company manufactures automotive air-conditioning compressor units for North American automotive manufacturers. Customers include General Motors, Chrysler, Ford, Toyota, Honda, Freightliner and John Deere. www.michauto.com. # # # Hot Rod UHot Rod U The Jackson Area Manufacturers Association’s (JAMA) Academy for Manufacturing Careers (AMC) is proud to announce the overwhelming success of our new HOT ROD U Program. In August of 2011, as part of the JAMA/AMC education pipeline which includes the popular I Can Make It Camp (ICMIC) & Machining U Program, the Hot Rod U Camp was launched. Exterior Photo: Interior Photo: ![]() From the photos above, you can see that with these donations, the students were faced with an amazing challenge. ![]()
The completed vehicle will be featured and highlighted in HOT ROD magazine recognizing the HOT ROD U program and the student’s accomplishments.
The HOT ROD U program is an incredible culmination of the programs available to our local youth and an avenue for students to display their talents and receive national recognition. We encourage everyone to actively participate in the HOT ROD U program in Jackson. We welcome all corporate and organizational sponsors to assist in the funding of this remarkable program to provide the necessary supplies, instruction and financial support to make it a success. If you possess a mechanical background, we welcome your expertise and donated time as a mentor. Please contact Annette Norris at (517)782-8269. Your assistance goes a long way in launching this program into another year and another phase of amazing creations. An organization of The Enterprise Group of Jackson, The Academy for Manufacturing Careers (AMC) is a certified U.S. Department of Labor Registered Apprenticeship Program through the Jackson Area Manufacturers Association in partnership with South Central Michigan Works! Since its inception in 2005, there have been over 2,000 course registrations and approximately 165 apprentices enrolled in the program. The AMC offers classes taught by experienced professionals and industry leaders and delivered using flexible scheduling to meet the needs of both full-time students and adults already employed in the manufacturing industry. AMC’s compressed courses are completed within weeks, not months. Customized training is also available based upon individual company needs. Machining U 2012Machining U and the newly added ROV (Underwater Remotely Operated Vehicle) camp will be held from July 30, 2012-August 9, 2012. Please see the flyer for more information. If you would like to register please fill out the registration form and return to the Academy for Manufacturing Careers at One Jackson Square, Suite 1100 Jackson, MI 49201. If you would like more information please contact Annette Norris This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or Olivia Firmingham This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or by phone at 517-782-8268. I Can Make It! Camp 2012I Can Make It! Camp 2012 will be July 16, 2012 -July 20, 2012. Please see the flyer for more information. If you would like to register please fill out the registration form and return to the Academy for Manufacturing Careers at One Jackson Square, Suite 1100 Jackson, MI 49201. If you have questions or would like more information please contact Annette Norris
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or Olivia Firmingham
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or by phone at 517-782-8268. Engineering is ElementaryThanks to startup funding provided by the United Way of Jackson County, JAMA's Academy for Manufacturing Careers would like to announce two Engineering is Elementary® (EiE) projects: Catching the Wind for Kindergarten through 2nd Graders and Marvelous Machines for 3rd through 5th Graders.
EiE fosters engineering and technological literacy in young children. The program uses a research-based, standards-driven, classroom-tested curriculum that integrates engineering and technology concepts and skills with elementary science topics. This promotes science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) learning connected with literacy, social studies, problem solving, teamwork and more.
The first session is Catching the Wind for K-2 which guides students to think like mechanical engineers. They will use their knowledge of wind to design and create machines to be used to capture wind energy. The second session is Marvelous Machines for grades 3-5 which guides students to learn about how factories use processes, systems, and machines to help make work easier and safer for workers. Students will learn about simple machines and how they make work easier. There will be several locations for the EiE program. Please see the flyers for the Ella Sharp, Camp McGregor, Grass Lake and Hanover Horton locations or contact our office for more information. If you would like more information or a registration packet, please contact Annette Norris This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or Olivia Firmingham This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or call 517-782-8268. |





