Change Your Life With FAME USA
Ready for a well-paying career with attractive benefits right now?
FAME is a paid experience training program that prepares you for the manufacturing careers of tomorrow, today.
Photos by David Bohrer / National Assoc. of Manufacturers
2023 FAME National Conference
The 2023 FAME National Conference, held on May 16-17 in Huntsville, AL, was a resounding success. Bringing together representatives from 28 chapters within the FAME USA Network, including a significant presence of AMT students, this conference proved to be a pivotal event for the national Federation for Advanced Manufacturing Education.
Building upon the momentum of previous conferences, the 2023 edition provided attendees with invaluable opportunities for networking, peer support, sharing best practices, and accessing technical assistance. It served as a platform for fostering collaboration and knowledge exchange among professionals in the advanced manufacturing industry.
Representing chapters from across the country, the conference witnessed a remarkable turnout, with a strong showing from employers, college partners, and community supporters. Participants traveled from all corners of the network, showcasing the widespread engagement and commitment to the FAME program.
For those interested in discovering more about the FAME program, joining an existing chapter, or even starting a new chapter, we invite you to explore further by clicking below to attend a FAME Overview Session.
Join us in shaping the future of advanced manufacturing education and empowering the workforce of tomorrow. Learn more and register today!
Photos by David Bohrer / National Assoc. of Manufacturers
2022 FAME National Conference
The MI hosted the first FAME National Conference in Cincinnati this month, marking the return of an important annual convening for the national Federation for Advanced Manufacturing Education. This conference was the first since 2018 and provided networking, peer support, best practices, and technical assistance to the nearly 125 attendees. Attendees traveled from all but one state in the network and more than 80% of chapters were represented. Employers made up more than half of the participants, with college partners and hubs rounding out the roster.
If you are interested in learning about the FAME program, joining a FAME chapter or starting a new FAME chapter, click below to learn more and register.
FAME Live! 2022
FAME Live! provides interested companies, schools, and stakeholders a chance to preview unique aspects of the Federation for Advanced Manufacturing Education (FAME). On May 25, 2022 in Louisville, KY, students, employers, and various partners will explain how the elements of the FAME Advanced Manufacturing Technician (AMT) program come together in a proven and effective regimen to train global-best, entry-level, multiskilled maintenance technicians. Hear directly from those participating and find out how you can bring this outcomes-based collaborative to your area.
Who should participate?
- Manufacturing Companies with Open Skilled Maintenance Positions
- Community College and High School CTE Representatives
- Economic and Workforce Stakeholders
If you are interested in learning about the FAME program, joining a FAME chapter or starting a new FAME chapter, email fame@nam.org to learn more.
What is FAME?
The Federation for Advanced Manufacturing Education, within the Manufacturing Institute, is the premier advanced manufacturing workforce education and development program. FAME helps students become highly skilled, globally competitive, well-rounded and sought-after talent that can meet the unique needs and challenges of today’s modern manufacturing workforce. Every year, FAME graduates’ transition into well-paying, diverse career pathways in critical disciplines across the manufacturing industry and across the country.
Those enrolled into the FAME Program will start a work/study program to earn an associate degree and certification as an Advanced Manufacturing Technician (AMT). FAME Students attend classes at a local community college two days a week (8 hours or more each day) and will work at least 24 hours a week (8 hours or more each day for three days) for a local, sponsoring employer – being paid a competitive wage.
As a participant in the AMT Program, you will engage in hands-on training and education to develop you as a well-rounded worker, including:
Technical Manufacturing Skills
Mastering a multiskilled technical skill set, including electricity, robotics, fluid power, mechanics, fabrication (welding and machining), industrial troubleshooting, and more.
Manufacturing Core Exercises
These exercises will prepare you to contribute to a safe and highly efficient, cost effective workplace. These include Safety Culture, Visual Workplace Organization, Lean Manufacturing, Problem Solving, and Machine Reliability.
Professional Behaviors
Work Attendance, Initiative, Diligence, Interpersonal Relations, Teamwork, and Verbal and Written Communication will provide you with critical skills and capabilities to be a successful and accomplished employee.
FAME is Right for You if You Are...
Ready to take the first step towards a successful, well-paying career path?
FAME Program Apprenticeship Completion
Upon completion of your apprenticeship students earn:
- An Associate degree (2-year college degree)
- At least 60 credit hours
- Approximately 2 calendar years/1,800 hours of on-the-job training and work experience
- Potentially zero student-loan debt so that you can graduate college debt free
- Opportunity for full-time employment with a sponsoring employer
- The opportunity to continue your education in an Advanced Manufacturing Business
- Northwood University recognizes 60 credits to apply towards a bachelor of science in Lean Operations & Supply Chain Management, or in Applied Management
- The opportunity to continue your education in an Advanced Manufacturing Engineer or Engineering Technician with a participating university
FAME USA Locations
FAME is driving the future of the manufacturing industry by building cohesive cooperatives of manufacturers to implement this proven model of skilled training.
Pick your location and apply today!
FAME Program FAQs
Candidates for FAME should be career-oriented, academically prepared students seeking rewarding work who thrive within highly regimented, hands-on programs and are aiming to advance quickly in their career. All participants must be college-ready high school graduates interested in pursuing a concentrated two-year, debt-free degree and looking to gain a practical set of valuable and transferable technical skills.
AMT students will gain experience within a modern, advanced manufacturing floor environment and develop a multifaceted technical skillset. The practice areas include electricity, robotics, fluid power, mechanics, fabrication, industrial troubleshooting and more, as well as lessons that tackle the Manufacturing Core Exercises and Professional Behaviors. AMT graduates will receive an associate degree, 60-79 credit hours and 1,800 hours of on-the-job training and work experience that will launch their career as a manufacturing technician. AMTs are prepared for an accelerated career in maintenance upon graduation, but graduates seeking to continue their education can enroll in an advanced manufacturing business bachelor’s degree program that is fully aligned with FAME and delivered through our national partner Northwood University. AMT graduates can also pursue engineering or engineering technology bachelor’s degrees at the school of their choice.
Maintenance technicians play a vital role in modern manufacturing by maintaining and ensuring the machines and robotics operate efficiently. They use complex problem-solving skills combined with technical knowledge to service and repair the machines quickly and effectively. As manufacturing continues to advance and the use of advanced manufacturing technology increases, the need for skilled maintenance technicians increases.
Manufacturing is a hands-on industry, and because of that our training does require participants to complete in-person lessons. However, because of the unique challenges that the COVID-19 pandemic has posed, we’ve adopted a hybrid virtual and in-person approach across all of our chapters in order to keep our students and instructors safe, and continue to provide best-in-class education and training that prepares our graduates for essential manufacturing jobs.
Once you meet the requirements listed above you can contact your local chapter by visiting the FAME-USA website, choose your designated chapter and apply!