With the aim of preparing the future workforce to meet the demands of manufacturing and artificial intelligence, the Manufacturing Institute and the Alabama Community College System signed a Memorandum of Understanding to bring the institute’s AI Skills for Manufacturing Training Suite to community colleges across Alabama.

The agreement was signed Monday in a ceremony at Calhoun Community College. The institute is the workforce development and education partner of the National Association of Manufacturers.

“The signing of this MOU comes at a pivotal moment for technical education and industrial growth in Alabama,” said Keith Phillips, deputy chancellor of Workforce & Economic Development and the Alabama Training Network. “Our community colleges exist to connect Alabamians with high-wage, high-skill careers that keep our state’s economy moving forward. 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.”

The partnership marks a significant expansion in Alabama’s manufacturing workforce training pipeline, giving community college students direct access to skills and training to develop AI fluency for practical manufacturing applications.

As part of the statewide rollout, the AI Skills for Manufacturing Training Suite introduces no-cost, shop-floor-focused instruction – including the newly launched AI Fundamentals for Manufacturing courses.

AI is changing manufacturing, and employers and educators need to ensure workers have the fundamental skills to use it effectively.

“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,” said Manufacturing Institute President Carolyn Lee. “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.”

Following the MOU signing, leadership and guests toured Calhoun’s Rocket City FAME chapter facility, the first FAME chapter in the nation to complete FAME USA’s Quality Assurance accreditation process.

“Hosting today’s signing and showcasing our Rocket City FAME students in action highlights the real impact of industry-aligned education,” said Calhoun Vice President of Academic Affairs Dr. Aletta Williamson. “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.”

Manufacturing makes up nearly 13% of Alabama’s workforce, the fifth highest among all 50 states. The statewide deployment across the community college system begins immediately, providing Alabama manufacturers and incoming students with direct access to the new AI training suite.