Found in Robotics News & Content, with a score of 76.79
July 29, 2020
…Walker, founder and director of eKentucky Advanced Manufacturing Institute (eKAMI), discusses the origins of the program, experiences of students and their employers (including AutoGuide) and the workforce landscape pre- and post-Covid. Walker outlines plans to replicate eKAMI's model and offers lessons for other employers and communities striving to optimize their workforces. “Employers are calling left and right,” Walker says, noting that the next class graduates in late August. “Covid did exacerbate the need to automate. I believe we'll see explosive growth in this arena.” The eKentucky Advanced Manufacturing Institute – or eKAMI - is a workforce development training center focused…
Found in Robotics News & Content, with a score of 62.48
March 23, 2021
…and automation. The East Kentucky Advanced Manufacturing Institute, or eKAMI, has been retraining workers to be robotics technicians. This week, Kentucky officials announced the funding of economic development projects, including $3 million for eKAMI's Advanced Robotic Instruction Project. “These projects are creating good jobs, more opportunity and a healthier future for Eastern Kentuckians,” said Gov. Andy Beshear. “These projects mean drinkable water, training and re-employment for those who have been laid off. For many of our people, the projects will mean more peace of mind and a fresh start when so many need it as we emerge from this pandemic,…
Found in Robotics News & Content, with a score of 51.59
June 03, 2021
The Eastern Kentucky Advanced Manufacturing Institute, or eKAMI, today announced the opening of a new Robotics Center that will offer hands-on training with robots that are used daily in factories and logistics facilities around the world. The Paintsville, Ky.-based institute, which is a model of workforce retraining, will include mobile robots and fixed robot arms from major vendors. “We are excited to open this new chapter in the eKAMI story,” said Kathy Walker, founder and CEO of eKAMI. “This expansion provides additional cutting-edge skills, which are in high demand by employers. To deploy automation, more companies are looking for individuals…
Found in Robotics News & Content, with a score of 49.25
April 29, 2022
…This week, the Eastern Kentucky Advanced Manufacturing Institute, or eKAMI, broke ground on its second workforce development training center. It will be on the grounds of the Eastern Kentucky Correctional Complex, the state's largest correctional facility. In recognition of National Second Chance Month, eKAMI said the new training center in Morgan County will help incarcerated individuals learn high-tech manufacturing skills. “Providing inmates who are re-entering society with the tools needed to succeed is a good investment for Kentucky,” said Kerry Harvey, cabinet secretary for justice and public safety, at the groundbreaking ceremony. “Bringing the eKAMI program to EKCC will be…
Found in Robotics News & Content, with a score of 48.51
March 02, 2022
…and CEO of Hass East Kentucky Advanced Manufacturing Institute (eKAMI). Starting young eKAMI has designated Slone as the Johnson County Schools student liaison. He has given presentations for his eighth-grade class and plans to do more outreach in the weeks and months to come. eKAMI is already discussing the possibility of introducing a summer camp for middle and high school students, Walker said, and Slone is a big part of that. “He has the responsibility of promoting eKAMI and communicating the wonderful high-tech careers that the 21st century industry has to offer in automation and robotics,” Walker said. Walker said…
Found in Robotics News & Content, with a score of 41.47
June 24, 2020
…two students enrolled in the eKentucky Advanced Manufacturing Institute (eKAMI) secured CNC machining jobs with leading manufacturers, with other companies calling the school with plans to hire new graduates in the coming weeks. Director Kathy Walker sees this interest as an indication that US manufacturing will see a resurgence, with recent surveys showing nearly two-thirds of manufacturers in North American plan to hire domestically instead of sending jobs overseas. “There remains a strong demand for high-skilled positions in advanced manufacturing, particularly in automation and robotics,” said Walker, who founded the eKAMI Haas Center along with the Gene Haas organization in…
Found in Robotics News & Content, with a score of 40.40
September 06, 2021
…eliminate jobs. The East Kentucky Advanced Manufacturing Institute, or eKAMI, has helped retrain former coal miners and other people to be robotics technicians. One recent graduate shared his story with Robotics 24/7. “I was a cable guy for five to six years, and I worked at my family's retail tool store, which supplied a lot of mines,” said Dustin Porter. “We were built upon coal in eastern Kentucky, and when that declined, I knew I would have to find something else. I saw an ad for eKAMI, applied, and got in. It has been an adventure ever since.” As the…
Found in Robotics News & Content, with a score of 33.19
August 31, 2021
In June, the Eastern Kentucky Advanced Manufacturing Institute, or eKAMI, opened a new Robotics Center to offer hands-on retraining with robot arms and mobile robots used in industry. The Paintsville, Ky.-based institute was founded in 2017 and is dedicated to addressing the skills gap in U.S. manufacturing. Among the technologies at the event was an Ohmni telepresence robot from OhmniLabs Inc. Demand for telepresence robots has grown during the COVID-19 pandemic, noted Thuc Vu, CEO of San Jose, Calif.-based OhmniLabs. “One area with a huge increase in demand was manufacturing,” he told Robotics 24/7. “Especially with restrictions on travel and…
Found in Robotics News & Content, with a score of 21.25
June 01, 2021
…like LinkedIn. At organizations like eKentucky Advanced Manufacturing Institute (eKAMI), which re-trains former coal miners in advanced manufacturing and robotics, has been successful by hitting on these key success factors. eKAMI has helped retrain coal miners to be robotics technicians. Source: Eastern Kentucky Advanced Manufacturing Institute In five to 10 months, depending on the program, eKAMI is able to take a student from not having the needed skills for the new 21st century jobs in manufacturing and robotics to being fully employed. The following are reasons why: eKAMI has partnered with many companies to ensure they are training students in…
