Employers invited to take part in MAT2 training program aimed at developing advanced manufacturing workers

Michigan employers are invited to take part in the Fall 2014 session of the Michigan Advanced Technician Training (MAT2) program...

LANSING, Mich. – Michigan employers are invited to take part in the Fall 2014 session of the Michigan Advanced Technician Training (MAT2) program, an innovative training initiative that combines classroom instruction with paid work experience in a three-year, no-cost program in the fields of mechatronics, information technology, and technical product design. 

“The MAT2 initiative is focused on meeting employer needs and will equip students with experience and skills they need to succeed in today’s high-tech world,” said MEDC President and CEO Michael A. Finney. “The MAT2 programs are a great way for employers to grow their own employees and ensure their own professional competency standards are met by being directly involved in the educational and training processes.”

Launched last fall by the Michigan Economic Development Corporation, MAT2 has expanded to include two new programs, Information Technology and Technical Product Design, and will offer a second cohort of students in the Mechatronics program for the 2014 fall session.

MAT2 is currently seeking industry partners to participate in all three program areas. Benefits of partnering with MAT2 include:

• Training students on in-house equipment;
• Standardized competencies and practices; 
• A pipeline of well-trained talent as an outcome; 
• Increasing involvement in value-added processes;
• Bridging today’s skills gap and aging workforce.

Through the program, MAT2 students will earn an associate’s degree from a participating community college, while they earn a paycheck and gain on the job experience with a participating company. Tuition is paid for by the employer, and in exchange, the student commits to remaining on the job for at least two years after successful completion of the program. 

Cutting-edge industry leaders, partnering with Oakland Community College and Grand Circus, have driven the development of the IT program and its content. The program aims to fill a void in the IT profession with a growing demand for skilled programmers, administrators, and analysts, while giving students an opportunity to become dynamic employees with a deep understanding of the IT field. 

In partnership with Macomb Community College, Mott Community College, and several industry experts, the Technical Product Design program will prepare students to take on jobs that are involved in designing new products, or modifying existing products, to gain efficiencies that will permit lower cost production or faster customer reaction time. Supported by foundational skills in materials and manufacturing and production methods, program participants are expected to become competent in the use and creation of internal and client presentations, 2-D drawings, technical documentation, 3-D models, and computer simulations. 

Employers looking to gain qualified, skilled technicians through participation in the fall 2014 MAT2 program can learn more by contacting Jacqui Mieksztyn, manager, Talent Programs, at [email protected], or 517.335.4638 by July 11, 2014. 

The current MAT² participating employers include:

• BorgWarner – Global product leader in powertrain solutions.
• Brose – Delivers mechatronic systems and electric drives to automotive manufacturers and suppliers.
• Cadillac Products Automotive Company – Designs, develops and manufactures creative and cost effective products including a wide variety of protective plastic, exterior and interior acoustical and energy management parts for the automotive industry.
• Dasi Solutions – Offers SolidWorks 3D CAD engineering software and Stratasys 3D printers for rapid prototyping.
• Detroit Diesel – Manufactures a complete line of heavy-duty diesel engines, axles and transmissions for the on-highway and vocational market.
• Dürr – One of the world’s leading suppliers of paint and assembly systems to the automotive, aircraft, and tier supplier industry.
• Eberspaecher – System partners of the automotive industry in the areas of automotive electronics and tools and services for electronic networking in vehicles.
• EMAG - Umbrella of companies that manufacture transmission, engine and chassis components covering the entire spectrum of machining processes in the metal working industry.
• Frimo – Worldwide leading developers and providers of system solutions for the manufacture of high-quality plastics components.
• FTE Automotive – Partner in the development and production of applications used in powertrain and braking systems for the automotive industry.
• Grand Circus – Tech training institute aiming to support and elevate Detroit’s tech industry.
• Heller – Manufactures 4-axis and 5-axis machining centers, multi-tasking machining centers, flexible manufacturing systems and crankshaft and camshaft milling and turning machines for; aerospace, automotive, agriculture, arms, construction, general machining, medical, power generation and trucking industries.
• HERCO – Supplier of precision sheet metal and machine services to customers in the electronics, defense, and aerospace industries.
• Hirotec – Provides top quality closure panels to the automotive industry through a fully-integrated production system.
• INERGY – Supplier of complete plastic fuel systems and emission reduction related fluids systems to car manufacturers.
• Jenoptik – Leading manufacturer and system provider of industrial metrology products for high-precision, contact and non-contact production metrology.
• Kern-Liebers – Worldwide supplier for systems vendors to the automotive, textile, and consumer goods industries.
• KESSLER – Manufacturer of components for the machine tool industry.
• KOSTAL – Develops and manufactures technologically advanced electronic, electro-mechanical and mechatronic products.
• Linear Mold & Engineering – Provider of tooling for injection molds, compression molds, and any tooling required for processing of thermoplastic resins.
• Link Engineering – A designer and manufacturer of precision test equipment and a provider of comprehensive testing services.
• New Center Stamping – Produces predominately past model service parts for the automotive industry.
• Pontiac Coil – Manufactures a wide expanse of coils, solenoids, electromagnetic, electromechanical, transformers, and plastic injection molding parts and components.
• Proper Group International – Innovator in the plastic molding industry, delivering rapid prototype development to sophisticated injection molds for the transportation industry.
• Secure 24 – Provides quality IT hosting services for SAP and Oracle, as well as IT outsourcing solutions for corporations.
• Siemens – A globally operating technology company with core activities in the fields of energy, health care, industry, and infrastructure.
• Van-Rob – A full-service automotive industry leader in the design and manufacture of large structural assemblies, chassis components, and interior crash management systems in both steel and aluminum.
• Volkswagen Group of America – A wholly owned subsidiary of Volkswagen AG, one of the world’s leading automobile manufacturers and the largest carmaker in Europe.
• Weil Engineering – From rollforming equipment, to laser tube welders, to end forming machinery, Weil technology offers a complete turn-key solution to develop thin-wall steel tube from initial conception to reality.
• ZF – International supplier of automotive driveline and chassis technology.

For more information on the MAT² program, please visit http://www.mitalent.org/mat2/.

About Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC)

The Michigan Economic Development Corporation is the state’s marketing arm and lead advocate for business development, job awareness and community development with the focus on growing Michigan’s economy. For more information on the MEDC and our initiatives, visit www.MichiganBusiness.org. For Pure Michigan® tourism information, your trip begins at www.michigan.org. Join the conversation on: Facebook Instagram LinkedIn, and Twitter.