October 2017
Western Michigan Commits
to $3M Manufacturing
Training Lab
New manufacturing training options
will soon be available for manufacturers
near, and students attending, Western
Michigan University (WMU) as the
college announced plans this fall to begin
construction of a two-story, $3 million
Advanced Manufacturing Partnership Lab.
The AMP Lab @ WMU will contain
areas for research and hands-on instructional
space and support college labs for both
WMU and GRCC, w orkshops, training
sessions, outreach to the local K-12
system and workforce development.
“AMP Lab will be a place for
collaboration and learning in an
advanced manufacturing and design
environment,” said Steven Butt, professor
and chair of WMU’s Engineering
Design, Manufacturing and Management
Systems department. “Entrepreneurs
will have opportunities to prototype
their ideas. For some it may be a place to
start, and for others, it will be a place to
hone a new product, process or skill.”
The lab is being built in collaboration
with Grand Rapids Community College
(GRCC) and local manufacturers and
will be located on the first two floors of
the university’s Grand Rapids location.
“This open, urban location will allow
individuals to see inside an advanced
manufacturing space and will help
enhance the image of manufacturing,”
said John C. Kennedy, past recipient
of the John G. Thodis Michigan
Manufacturer of the Year Award and
president of MMA member company
Autocam Medical in Grand Rapids.
“The AMP Lab is a maker space in its
truest form, addressing the needs of
entrepreneurs and providing a space to
bring ideas to life. Programming this
facility will foster a format of collaborative
learning between educators and students.”
Talent remains a critical concern for
manufacturers nationwide as more than
3.5 million industry jobs are expected to
be needed over the next 10 years with as
many as two million estimated to go
unfilled due to a lack of new talent.
The AMP Lab @ WMU is expected
to be completed in fall 2018.
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MiMfg Magazine
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AMP Lab @ WMU concept illustrations
Senator Shirkey Speaks on Senate Resolution for Manufacturing
Senator Mike Shirkey offers up a resolution on the impact of manufacturing to the state
of Michigan during a Senate session on 10/3/17.
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